Just Back From POR - 9/27 Thru 10/4 MORE THAN JUST A VACATION-VALUABLE LESSONS

[MOMOFMNM]

CUTE CUTTERS!!!!

I sooooo saw soooo many of those, you know how they push their kids from behind as if to make the CHILD be the line cutter???

crazy....and then they smile and practically become your neighbor!!

 

[twotommygirl]

We must have high-tailed it out of there because it started to rain as we got on the bus, and stopped as soon as we pulled in to POR. More of that good luck I guess.

 

[cattrix]

How funny twotommygirl, we got there same day, left on the same day and stayed at the same resort, plus went right to Magic Kingdom after we checked in and got our room We also loved the dining plan, wow was it a lot of food!! Our best meal was at Yachtsmen Steakhouse.

We stayed in Magnolia Terrace in the mansion section, I also walked into Magic Kingdom looking around and wondering where the big crowd was, think my DBF was getting annoyed with me saying "I can't believe we're just walking on all these rides"......POW did that stop about Oct 1, it was like the crowd switch was thrown and it just became a nightmare around the parks and the resort!!!

Can't wait to read the rest of your trip report.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

oct 1 was a saturday and we went to MGM, we hardly had to wait for anything but did not get it all done due to PS at Sci Fi that took forever...

missed all the biggies

lights motor action
indiana
and

fantasmic

 

[twotommygirl]

Oh no! I just typed almost the whole day and my daughter came over, pressed something, and it disappeared! I'll have to try again tomorrow, the Yankee game is on now.

cattrix, I feel exactly the same way. What about those damn busses starting 10/1? Horrible, huh? We were in our favorite room in Parterre Place. We get a corner room overlooking the quiet pool. It was our second time in that room, so it feels like home to us.

MOMOFMNM, How was Sci Fi? We skipped our ps to see the stunt show. Dont be to upset about Fantasmic. Small ones may be scared anyway. It'll still be there.

bigsis1970, I let them cut too. It's much more fun though when you make a game out of it.

 

[larsson7]

What a great report,love your laundry visit in the wee small hours.
Great interaction with the lady at the pool.
"Crabby casual cutters" are more noticeable everywhere these days,
the last time we went to Disneyland paris we a had a combination
Pushy Mom/Crabby casual cutter as we tried to queue for Minnies autograph.
Very rude, but your new attitude is very uplifting Keep up the good work on your reports.
Robert

 

[twotommygirl]

Another peaceful slumber. Today we are going to Epcot. What I didn't mention before is that this trip was a surprise to my kids. We didn't tell them till the morning of......and I swear I'll never do it again. One of the hardest things I've ever done, being that I am someone who still snoops for Xmas presents. It was so hard on me not sharing that pretrip excitement. Anyway, on the first day of school we sent the boys off on the bus and my daughter and I went to the mall. While there, we went to Disney and tried on all the costumes. We absolutely fell in love with the Belle "deluxe" costume, but I just couldn't justify, at the time, spending that much on a costume. No, I wait till 4 days before our trip, buy it online and pay for express shipping. Therefore increasing the price by 15%. Smart. So on this morning I take out the dress as we have ADR for dinner with the princesses today. The look on my little angel's face was worth every last penny spent on that dress. We go to breakfast at Boatwrights where the grill is still broken and my husband is about ready to cause a riot. As we approach the bus stop, we notice a bit more people - but not unbearable. We get to Epcot and its a little noticeable, but again not terrible. We get fast passes for Soarin (I think there was a 40 min. wait at this time) and enjoy the Circle of Life movie and the other ride, I can't recall the name, where you get to see how Disney grows vegetation and such - very enjoyable. It is now time for Soarin and I can't help but feel guilty as we walk pass the line with now has a 60 min. wait. Why don't people use FP? I don't get it. We all loved this ride. Then off to TT - a favorite of my boys. We then head over to World Showcase. The crowds are pretty light, but you could feel a difference. We have an enjoyable afternoon, then head back to the lockers (did I mention you have to pay $7 - $2 of it a deposit to rent one????) to get my daughters costume and dress her up. We walk to Norway-I bring her into the bathroom, wash her up, put on her costume, put up her hair and throw on her tiara. All in all about 10 minutes. But she looked beautiful! I loved watching my husband walk with her-how proud he was. The thing about my daughter is she doesn't wear a costume, she becomes a princess. She walks differently, smiles differently, even instinctively holds her gown up in the front as she walks - too much! We are the first ones to check in and stand in the vestibule near the door, with really not much room for anyone else. As other people come, they stand off to the side. Then comes miss "pushy mom" who also happens to be a "casual cutter". She is there with what appears to be her mom, sister, husband, and daughter. Her daughter is not in costume and is just a little sweaty, hyper ball of freshness; a mini-me of her mom if you get my drift. They proceed to squeeze in front of us in the vestibule. While standing there, the mom is telling her mom and sister (who must have just arrived) about how they learned to manipulate the free dining plan. How there is no way to distinguish, when using the card, between how many adult meals you have left vs. how many kids meals you have left. So they have been ordering for their daughter - who was about 5 - off of the adult menu. Honestly people, who thinks of this crap? Why would you want to take something you get for free and abuse it that way? Where do these cheapskates get the nerve to try it out to begin with? And believe me, this child had no business ordering off the adult menu if you get my drift. So as I am sitting there biting my lip trying to find a new category in my game, the little sweaty, messy ball of freshness turns around and is sizing up my little freshly-madeup princess and says, "Your just a showoff". Ha, did she think she was going to penetrate the princess aura? No way, my daughter has two older brothers. She can take anything this little brat is going to throw at her. She then reaches to grab my daughter's wand when my little guy blocks her. (I was so proud) She didn't know what to do so she did what all little girls like her do, she screamed and cried. Well her mom must be used to this because she didn't pay her much attention, but it did get grandma's attention. Grandma then turns and, seeing my daughter says, "Oh, what a beautiful costume!" Oh great, now they are going to try to talk to us. "Where did you get it? Oh Abby, wouldn't you like that for Halloween?" Its at this time that the mother is now looking my daughter up and down and says, "Are you crazy? That is a ridiculous waste of money. I'm not one of those parents who feels the need to compete with other parents over something like a costume." Imagine that. I swear, my husband says it all the time, "There are no bad kids, just bad parents". Have you ever watched "Nanny 911"? It's proven, here at Disney too. That screaming kid you see is probably freakin exhausted from its parents dragging him all over the parks. While we were in line for that ride above whose name I've forgotten, there was a little girl-about 4- out and out abusing her mother. She was whining because she wanted to be held, and when her mother didn't pick her up she was pinching and biting her. Now I don't know about you but my kids have never even tried to do any of these things. When the mother picked her up, she proceeded to smack her and pull her hair. All the while, the mother is trying to reason with her. Woman, what are you thinking? Back to my story. Well folks, this new relaxed mom had had it. Before I could even think about what I was going to say it came out. It went something like this, in the sweetest tone I could possible pull off, "This dress was in no way a way of competing with other mothers but a gift for a wonderful little girl. Oh, and while I have your ear, people who brag about stealing from something they got for free should refrain from passing judgement on others." Whew, that was a load off my chest. Just as the words were out of my mouth, a CM called us in to the table. We went on to have a wonderful dinner. Never seeing the offending party again, I can only hope they were banished to the dungeon. My husband was the only adult who had to get his picture with a princess, an absolutely beautiful Jasmine. Afterwards, we changed my daughter back into her clothes and went on to enjoy Illuminations. Tonight, the bus situation got sticky as it took 2 busses to empty the crowd in front of us. We made the third bus, standing, and went back to POR for our nightly swim. All in all, a good day.

 

[DisneyForLife]

I love reading your reports, I feel like I am reading a novel. Great job!!!!

 

[twotommygirl]

Thanks everyone, for your sweet comments and for taking the time to read my story. Sorry if it gets confusing with all my jumping around, I was telling as I recall.

larsson7 - perfect timing as I had a run-in with the same type. Thanks for the comments.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

LOVING the trip report!

Unfortunately, I am lacking the "Zen" attitude. Even on a good day I am just a LITTLE high strung. But I will work on it!

As a nanny for the past 12 years I can tell you there are virtually NO intrinsically "bad" children, but there are HOARDS of bad parents. I am sure I will see plenty, mostly because I notice them without really trying. Hmm. I wonder how many clueless people I can spot spending "quality time" with their precious darlings, screaming at them and pushing them far beyond their limits, all the while reminding the children they are ON VACATION? I will call them the "Nanny Needers"! Perhaps I should print out some little cards with the info to apply for Nanny 911 and hand them out as I go along! OK, I am not brave enough to actually do that, but just the THOUGHT of doing it should help me get through any encounters with Nanny Needers! (No flames about judging people, please. We have all seen parents who are just OBNOXIOUS and their children are, too.)

Looking forward to the rest of your report!

 

[Nevergrowinup]

Wow, a great series of posts so far, and you have my wife and I both reading She has already turned to me and said, "I can see you doing this." Which has me wondering why I haven't before. Perhaps now I will. We too have played the "lemon" game but never given it the structure and definition that you have. I suspect we will be using your character definitions on our next trip (WHICH IS In late NOVEMBER YAY!).

We have always been observers of people while at WDW, it's something my wife even once wrote WDW about. Fortunately we have mostly experienced tender moments of Mom's or Dad's with kids standing in line soaking it all in while smiling. I am so glad that generally speaking those smiles out number the "sour lemons". But, we have had our times with sour lemons as well.

One Memorial Day weekend a few years ago my wife and I were taking a brief respite from the "outer" world by staying at the Wilderness Lodge for a few days. It turned out to be one of our best trips ever. This was during one of the years when wildfires were a serious problem in Florida. In fact, there were fires close to WDW, so close in fact that one morning we woke up to find all of the World covered in a fairly thick cloud of smoke. This smoke situation had a lot of things out of kilter, one of which was the Water Taxi's were not running until the smoke cleared. We strolled out to catch a bus, and walked to the rear (always trying to leave room at the front), found a seat, sat down and proceeded to just smile and enjoy each other's company. That's when one of the "SOUREST Lemons" I have ever encountered at WDW entered the bus and sat down not far enough away from us. He was livid. It seems that the damn smoke was ruining his expensive vacation and he was "BY GOD" going to let everyone at WDW know he had paid a lot for this vacation and was not happy with such inconveniences! I mean he was red in the face and just ranting. His wife seemed very embarrassed, his kids looked numb, and his parents/in-laws seemed dumb-founded. We almost got off the bus, and were so glad when he did. In our game we believe that when you enter Disney World, you're sprinkled with "Pixie Dust" and we figured he must have missed it!

I am glad most people aren't like him. I am so glad most people who are at WDW do get it. Whether you are in full Commando Mode, or Causal Mode at WDW the most important thing to remember is to have fun, smile and soak up the magic.

Thanks for the great trip reports, I look forward to more!

 

[Shelby5514]

:thewave: Great report! Keep 'um coming!

 

[fizz13]

Just wanted to post to say I think you handled that certain situation outside Akerhaus with grace, dignity and just the right amount of put down. Bravo to you and your children for handling it so well and not letting it spoil your dinner Will check back for more soon,

Claire xx

 

[twotommygirl]

Wow, you take a couple of days off and get pushed right to the bottom of the second page!

jackskellingtonsgirl- AMEN! Nuff said.

Nevergrowinup-I, too, am glad most people are not like that wonderful man you encountered. I am finding, though, that more and more people ARE like that and is bothersome. Thanks for the comments.

Shelby5514 :thewave: Right back at ya!

fizz13-thanks, though it was difficult! I do have to say that my kids are awesome!

Back to story.......

We sleep in Saturday. Everyone says the parks get so crowded on the weekend, so we decide to eat a late breakfast and take it easy. We head down to Boatwrights and Whoo Hoo! the grill is fixed and my guys get their pancakes - worth the wait as they looooved them. After breakfast, we take a leisurely stroll and hop on the boat to DTD. I love that boat ride. We do a little shopping and decide it too hot and crowded lets go back and go in the pool. As we head for the boat we see the driver standing in front of the dock with another, not-so-nice driver. As we approach, the not-so-nice driver steps in front of us and tells us there will be no more boat service as it is too windy. My husband tries to find out if this is just temporary as we wanted to avoid the bus today, and she gets snippy with him saying something to the effect of not controlling the weather. Ooooh, someone isn't having a good day. My husband was totally taken aback by this snippiness, I had to pull him away. We get on the bus and wouldn't you know it - As we get back to POR and cross the bridge to get to our room, here comes the boat back from DTD loaded with people. Hmmmmm. Anyway, we decide to put on our bathing suits, grab some lunch, and hit the main pool. We go over to the food court and WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? Our nice resort had become Everyone's resort! I swear there were wall to wall people - it was a freakin madhouse! We grabbed some pre-made meals and hightail it out of there. We head on over to the pool, the same thing. Ah crap! The good part about all of this is that this is usually the day I start getting the "vacation is 1/2 over blues". No time to think about that! I find an empty chair and go on over to the bar and get my husband and I some cocktails - because we really need them right now. I come back after about 6 minutes and my chair is gone and belongings are left on the floor. I quickly scan the crowd, looking for a guilty expression - to no avail. Now I'm just pissed. I don't want to talk to anyone, because they might be the chair stealer. So I watch my kids and husband playing in the crowded pool, when my daugher gets hit square in the nose with a ball thrown by a father! Thats it, I've had it. We all go over to our quiet pool, which isn't so quiet anymore. I am getting more frustrated by the minute. We all decide to go take a little nap, that will make us feel better - WRONG. We all slept in today, we're not tired. We get dressed and decide to take our chances and head on over to MK. Why, I don't know. Its about 5:45 when we walk over to the bus stop and realize everyone's in costume, its MNSSHP - they'll be kicking us out in an hour. Instead we head on over to Epcot. As we are walking in I notice it's getting very windy (first sign of a severe FL thunderstorm - I became awesome at predicting these) and there were some dark clouds moving in. My husband and I look at each other and decide to call it a day. No sooner did we step on that bus that the heavens opened up. Good call. We get back to POR and decide to put our names in for dinner. We get a table in the River Roost, and just sit enjoying some drinks and appetizers. We totally forgot about Bob Jackson performing there at night. Boy did he save the day for us, providing some fun interactive enterainment. If you've never seen him perform at POR, don't miss it. We eat a late, but delicious dinner at Boatwrights and call it a night. OK, so the day pretty much stunk. But we did end it nicely. My husband takes the two little ones in the pool for our nightly swim, me and my 9 year old opt to relax and read one of his books together. Ah, the rest of the world may be going mad - but as long as I've got these 4 along for the ride, I'm a happy woman.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Keep posting!

 

[Shelby5514]

:thewave: WOO HOO!

The good part about all of this is that this is usually the day I start getting the "vacation is 1/2 over blues".

I HATE that day! I try not to think about it, but it usually hits me at some odd time like when I'm walking down Main St. eating a Mickey rice krispie. I think "A week from now I'll be back at work" or "Next week at this time I'll be scooping cat poop." It doesn't last long (I think Disney pipes in subliminal messages to combat this)but it is SUCH a downer when it hits.

 

[poohguys]

. After breakfast, we take a leisurely stroll and hop on the boat to DTD. I love that boat ride. We do a little shopping and decide it too hot and crowded lets go back and go in the pool. As we head for the boat we see the driver standing in front of the dock with another, not-so-nice driver. As we approach, the not-so-nice driver steps in front of us and tells us there will be no more boat service as it is too windy. :

Was the not so nice boat captain named Nancy? We had one named Nancy that yelled at a bunch of us on 10/9. We were waiting for the boat at the FQ to go back over to Riverside. The people that were there before us were lined up passed were the gate was. When she pulled the boat in she just yelled that everyone needed to get back behind the gate it was the rules and we were not following them and that she was sick of everyone not following the rules. People explaned that the gate was open when they got there and they walked just inside of were it was. She just kept yelling. If she had asked nicely I am sure that everyone would have been a lot more receptive to her. She was rude and just did not act the way a Disney CM should. Another boat driver pulled up and witnessed everything. He took us on his boat. I think that a few people went to the front desk to report her.

 

[disneyfreak2]

Great report!!

You've got me hooked. I'm excited to hear the rest of your report

 

[twotommygirl]

Was the not so nice boat captain named Nancy? We had one named Nancy that yelled at a bunch of us on 10/9. We were waiting for the boat at the FQ to go back over to Riverside. The people that were there before us were lined up passed were the gate was. When she pulled the boat in she just yelled that everyone needed to get back behind the gate it was the rules and we were not following them and that she was sick of everyone not following the rules. People explaned that the gate was open when they got there and they walked just inside of were it was. She just kept yelling. If she had asked nicely I am sure that everyone would have been a lot more receptive to her. She was rude and just did not act the way a Disney CM should. Another boat driver pulled up and witnessed everything. He took us on his boat. I think that a few people went to the front desk to report her.

I don't know her name. Let's just say she wasn't very feminine.

 

[twotommygirl]

So we wake up on Sunday and decide to try the parks on the weekend. We head on down to Boatwrights so my guys can get their fill of pancakes. Once again, we have a most enjoyable breakfast. We are becoming friends with the waitresses there since we frequent it so much. We take a family vote and decide we are off to MK. We head on over to the busses. Crap, the place is packed! Very different from the beginning of our trip. After about 10 minutes the bus shows up, packed already from the FQ people. POR is really too big a resort to share a bus. We are all standing again. We did learn that the stairwell in the back is always an option for tired little feet to sit, so long as they have a pole to hang on to. As we approach MK, you can't help but notice the difference in the parking lot. There's a sea of cars today. Again, this helps my "almost time to go home depression". I'm kind of looking forward to it by now. We wait on line and finally get in and head right up to the train. Don't you just love how when you are waiting in wide lines, there's always that family that casually tries to sneak past you as the line is slowly moving? They try to hug the inside corner and casually inch past you. Well by now I've become a pro at widening myself so that they can't pass me. It's a little game for me now. My husband gets a kick out of my technique. If I left it up to "MR. Laid Back", the whole line would pass us. We have a little round of this game while waiting. With the crowds comes back some of my Disney Anxiety. We take the train over to Frontierland and get on a 30 min. line for Splash Mountain. We didn't tell my daughter what it was, cruel I know, but how funny it turned out. In the picture they take there's me, my husband and boys screaming - then there's Taylor (my 4 year old) in the front row with my husband with this very plain, unexcited look on her face. We were all hysterical standing there. From there we walk right on Thunder Mountain, again not telling my daughter what she was in store for. If she ever trusts us again it will be a miracle. As we get off it proceeds to pour, so we try to find shelter. We end up meeting some nice people and hiding out under a snack cart umbrella with them. After a few more rides, we head on over to Pecos Bill Cafe. While my husband gets our food, I scout out a table. I like eating here, but hate the table race. I find a table pretty easily, then sit back and watch as others do the same. Wow, women can really get aggressive when trying to find a table for their family. The food was pretty good and I get a dessert that I haven't tried before. The peanut butter/chocolate mousse thing - pretty good. We are never able, however, to finish all the food with the free dining plan, and always find some people willing to take what we can't eat. We work our way around the whole park, riding our favorites. We end up in Tomorrowland. My family goes to get on line for Stitch while I get FP for Buzz. While there I find someone had forgotten to take their card. Quickly, I look around for a CM so I can catch up with my family. I see a group of 3 CMs talking and walk over to them. "Excuse me, but I was just over".............."No excuse us mam, we'll be right with you" and they go back to their little personal conversation. Now last I checked, I payed alot of money to be here, and they were getting paid to help me. "You know what, forget it. I'll just find a manager to hand this lost card to. Better yet, maybe I'll just go have lunch on this card, then give it to a manager." Boy did they change their tune then. Morons. Race over to Stitch. As we are filing in to the seats, we are one of the last ones in. It looks as if the people in front of us are going to take up what is left of the back row, so I begin to enter the second row when the father from the family behind us jumps in front of my husband and two little ones. My husband then gets assertive back and doesn't let the wife and second child in front of him. So now both of our families are split up. To which the wife says to my husband, "Can you and your kids switch with us so WE can sit with OUR family?" To which my laid back husband replies, "Yeah, if your husband who practically knocked over my two kids to get in there will switch with us so WE can sit with OUR family who was in front of you on line." Go get em tiger! So we have our family back and all is well, except the attraction was so stupid. Pass on this one. We go on to Buzz, COP (one of my favorites) , and on to what my kids like to call "the relaxing ride" TTA. It was while on this ride that I see something that I've never seen before. The lights are on in Space Mountain. It was a little spooky actually seeing it like this. So we get off and head on over, wanting to get on the ride and see it with the lights on, but they were back off. I go on with my boys while my husband enjoys popcorn with my daughter. On our walk over to Speedway, my husband is holding my boys' hands, while I follow with my daughter. I notice my two boys leaning over to giggle at one another. Then my husband leans back and says, "Now thats what I'm talking about. Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like you to meet J-Lo's cousin Jello." I look in front of them and witness what must have been the fashion crime of the week. It was a young woman, in her late 20's. She was wearing a pair of black cotton shorts that only covered 1/2 of her more than ample, dimpled, cellulite ridden booty. Obviously she had no kind of support underneath because A. you would have seen it and B. her booty was everywhere. Now I ask you, why would someone wear this to Disney? What the hell was she thinking? My husband motions for us to pass her, trying to avoid my daughter seeing her. My daughter is at that "out of the mouths of babes" age. Just two days before we left on this trip we were eating in a local diner when a very nice young couple came in with their baby and thankfully sat behind my daughter. Thankfully because the father was very feminine looking. Dressed like a man, but a "pretty" face with no facial hair. Wouldn't you know, as we are leaving he is standing right outside the door, knealing to play with this toddler. We're not even out the door when my daughter starts , "MOM, MOM". I look at her with that wide-eyed, gritting teeth look while squeezing her hand. (It never works with her) "Ow, Mom you're hurting me!" "Mom, is that a man or a woman?" Another threatening look and she repeats louder, "MOM, IS THAT A MAN OR A WOMAN?" Another time while at McDonald's she loudly asked, "MOM, WHY DOES THIS BIG FAT LADY KEEP SMILING AT ME?" Needless to say, she didn't smile any longer. So we scoot past Jello and jump onto the line for Speedway and wouldn't you know it, they get on right behind us. We're safe for a little while, then the line splits into two. We go left, they go right. Right moves a bit quicker and Jello is face to butt with Taylor. "MOM, MOM". Oh no. Wide eyes, grit teeth. "MOM, MOM (while giggling at the same time)WHY IS THAT LADIES BIG FAT BUTT STICKING OUT OF HER SHORTS?" Oh, geez. We're trapped here on this line. The guy she is with turns and glares at us. The people all around us try to stifle their laughs, to no avail. Out of the mouths of babes. We later had a talk about it, I'm still not sure she understands. I reasoned later that it served her right. Maybe she'll think next time before she puts those shorts on. After this its one more ride on POC - hubby's favorite, then Jungle Cruise - one of my favorites, Magic carpet's of Aladdin - Taylor's favorite, and we call it a day. We head on over to DTD for our reservation at Rainforest Cafe', have an alright dinner, and head on back to POR for our nightly swim. One more full day before we go home.