jsmla
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2001
- Messages
- 4,498
This post is a bit late so I better remind you just who we are:
Me (44) Desparate to covince hubby that a trip Disney World is more fun than hiking the Appalachain Trail.
Scott (48) My DH of nearly 24 years. Slowly realizing that he CAN have a good time at WDW. (maybe)
I can't work up much enthusiasm about today's trip report. This was not one of our better days. You see, I made the mistake of taking Scott to the Magic Kingdom, on a beautiful Saturday, in October, twice, on the same day.
I know, I know. Stay away from the MK on a Saturday. Especially on a beautiful fall Saturday. This is a mistake made only by the rankest of newbies. Things had been going so well too. I just couldn't help myself. Here it was our third day in Disney World and I had yet to see the Castle or ride Peter Pan. I'd never seen Mickey's Philharmagic or Wishes. It's an absolutely beautiful Indian Summer day. The crowds, thus far, had been manageable. You try to resist.
Scott's never really been able to warm up to the MK. It's just not his sort of "thing." He likes the ambience of the Animal Kingdom, the beer at EPCOT. For him the Magic Kingdom conjures up memories of long lines and lost children. (I'm particularly prone to losing the children. We once lost DD here with four adults to supposedly watch two kids!) I have to make lots of extravagant promises regarding what we will and (more importantly) will not do before he agrees to give it a go.
We get to the park before opening and take the train to Frontierland for a ride on Splash Mt. with practically no wait. Still trying to stick to the "relaxed" plan we stroll in a leisurely fashion back to Fantasyland and see Peter Pan (one of my all time favorites) and Mickey's Philharmagic with little or no wait at all. Don't you just love Peter Pan? I do. I loved it when I was a kid and I loved riding it with my own children. I think it's partially the fond memories I have of this ride that keeps me so enthralled with WDW. We both love Mickey's Philharmagic. Scott even expresses a desire to, perhaps, see it a second time! Disney Imagineering, I bow my head to you. You have accomplished the unthinkable.
As we walk toward Tomorrowland I begin to notice that it's getting just a tad crowded. Since it's still quite early I begin to feel the smallest twinge of concern. Crowds are the one thing that I know will wilt Scott faster than the Florida sun. In Tomorrowland the lines for Space Mt. and Buzz Lightyear snake out into the park. In pre-Philharmagic days Buzz was one of the few attractions in the MK that Scott actually enjoyed so we decide to exercise our Fast Pass option here. We have over an hour to kill first though. We stroll over to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority for a relaxing, uncrowded trip through Tomorrowland to find (you just won't believe this!): A LINE!!!!!! It's short and fast-moving but I have never, in all my years, seen a line at the TTA. The twinge becomes a nagging tattoo on my brain. On the TTA, however, I notice that the line for Space Mt. is deceptive. It's practically all outside. Scott doesn't particularly like SM. Mission Space aside, he doesn't really like any thrill rides. It's not that he's afraid. Thrill rides just give him a headache. We really shouldn't ride but I just can't resist the opportunity. This was probably not the best decision I made this trip. Inside, the CM makes us ride in two different cars and the ride gives Scott a bit of a headache. Oh, well. We exit Space to find ourselves in Tomorrowland with, well, with just about everyone else in Central Florida today and another half-hour before we can ride Buzz. It's hot. Scott has grown ominously quiet and my old twinge is now in full throttle jungle drum mode. It's only 11:00 am, for goodness sakes! Since we don't have ready access to beer, I opt for food to try and lighten the mood. We split a cheeseburger, fries and a Diet Coke at Cosmic Ray's and feel a little bit better. By now, it must surely be time for our Fast Pass to be good. (It is. I double check, don't want a repeat of the Kilimanjaro Safari incident.) Scott thrashes me soundly at Buzz. (This is not the accomplishment you may be imagining, I'm incredibly bad at this. Something of a legend really.) By the time we finish up with Buzz the crowds are stupendous. We begin to walk toward the Haunted Mansion but it's becoming clear to the both of us that it's time to go. Its barely noon and walking down Main Street is like trying to swim upstream, in a sauna. I can't even imagine using up a Park Hopper day and arriving to crowds like this. No wonder some people come to WDW once and never return. I wouldn't.
We have the bus all to ourselves on the way back. Since the Jamaica quiet pool is closed we walk over to the Aruba pool for what has become our afternoon ritual of napping and beer. I do like the quiet pools here. I expecially like the hammocks on the beach. Very relaxing after our experiences of the morning.
We spend an extra long time at the happy hour pool and it's quite late by the time we shower and are ready for our evening. I've had a long time to think things over. The way I figure it everyone MUST have gotten discouraged by those crowds and left. Therefore the MK must be practically empty by now, right? Besides I really want to see Wishes.
Boy, was I ever wrong! If anything, the crowds are worse than ever. We wait in line for a Dole Whip and mill around Adventureland. We wait in line for Pirates of the Carribean only to have some woman take flash pictures (turning to face the rear of the boat and, thereby, us for that extra-blinding effect) pretty much non-stop until I protest. We push through the madding crowd toward the Haunted Mansion only to find an hour long line. Throughout all Scott has maintained a brooding silence. I HATE this. I'm the type that expresses her opinion loudly and often. While this may be somewhat obnoxious you usually know where you stand with me. With Scott you get a conversation like this:
Me: Are you okay, honey?
Scott (in a grim tone): I'm fine.
Me: Are you sure? Because you look...
Scott (interrupting): I said I was fine.
Me: What you want to do next?
Scott (appropriately long-faced): I don't care.
After 24 years of marriage I've learned to interpret this to mean:
A. He's not fine.
B. He's miserable and wants to leave
C. He thought he was going to Orange Beach when he agreed to miss work for this.
Anyway, on the way back from the Old Port Royale bus stop, I finally locate the raison d'etre for Scott's deep discontent. At the pool bar is a small but happy crowd of men. Of course they're happy. They've got beers in their hands and the LSU-Florida game on the telly. Why doesn't he ever tell me these things? It woud save us so much trouble.
I never did get to see Wishes.
Jennifer
Me (44) Desparate to covince hubby that a trip Disney World is more fun than hiking the Appalachain Trail.
Scott (48) My DH of nearly 24 years. Slowly realizing that he CAN have a good time at WDW. (maybe)
I can't work up much enthusiasm about today's trip report. This was not one of our better days. You see, I made the mistake of taking Scott to the Magic Kingdom, on a beautiful Saturday, in October, twice, on the same day.
I know, I know. Stay away from the MK on a Saturday. Especially on a beautiful fall Saturday. This is a mistake made only by the rankest of newbies. Things had been going so well too. I just couldn't help myself. Here it was our third day in Disney World and I had yet to see the Castle or ride Peter Pan. I'd never seen Mickey's Philharmagic or Wishes. It's an absolutely beautiful Indian Summer day. The crowds, thus far, had been manageable. You try to resist.
Scott's never really been able to warm up to the MK. It's just not his sort of "thing." He likes the ambience of the Animal Kingdom, the beer at EPCOT. For him the Magic Kingdom conjures up memories of long lines and lost children. (I'm particularly prone to losing the children. We once lost DD here with four adults to supposedly watch two kids!) I have to make lots of extravagant promises regarding what we will and (more importantly) will not do before he agrees to give it a go.
We get to the park before opening and take the train to Frontierland for a ride on Splash Mt. with practically no wait. Still trying to stick to the "relaxed" plan we stroll in a leisurely fashion back to Fantasyland and see Peter Pan (one of my all time favorites) and Mickey's Philharmagic with little or no wait at all. Don't you just love Peter Pan? I do. I loved it when I was a kid and I loved riding it with my own children. I think it's partially the fond memories I have of this ride that keeps me so enthralled with WDW. We both love Mickey's Philharmagic. Scott even expresses a desire to, perhaps, see it a second time! Disney Imagineering, I bow my head to you. You have accomplished the unthinkable.
As we walk toward Tomorrowland I begin to notice that it's getting just a tad crowded. Since it's still quite early I begin to feel the smallest twinge of concern. Crowds are the one thing that I know will wilt Scott faster than the Florida sun. In Tomorrowland the lines for Space Mt. and Buzz Lightyear snake out into the park. In pre-Philharmagic days Buzz was one of the few attractions in the MK that Scott actually enjoyed so we decide to exercise our Fast Pass option here. We have over an hour to kill first though. We stroll over to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority for a relaxing, uncrowded trip through Tomorrowland to find (you just won't believe this!): A LINE!!!!!! It's short and fast-moving but I have never, in all my years, seen a line at the TTA. The twinge becomes a nagging tattoo on my brain. On the TTA, however, I notice that the line for Space Mt. is deceptive. It's practically all outside. Scott doesn't particularly like SM. Mission Space aside, he doesn't really like any thrill rides. It's not that he's afraid. Thrill rides just give him a headache. We really shouldn't ride but I just can't resist the opportunity. This was probably not the best decision I made this trip. Inside, the CM makes us ride in two different cars and the ride gives Scott a bit of a headache. Oh, well. We exit Space to find ourselves in Tomorrowland with, well, with just about everyone else in Central Florida today and another half-hour before we can ride Buzz. It's hot. Scott has grown ominously quiet and my old twinge is now in full throttle jungle drum mode. It's only 11:00 am, for goodness sakes! Since we don't have ready access to beer, I opt for food to try and lighten the mood. We split a cheeseburger, fries and a Diet Coke at Cosmic Ray's and feel a little bit better. By now, it must surely be time for our Fast Pass to be good. (It is. I double check, don't want a repeat of the Kilimanjaro Safari incident.) Scott thrashes me soundly at Buzz. (This is not the accomplishment you may be imagining, I'm incredibly bad at this. Something of a legend really.) By the time we finish up with Buzz the crowds are stupendous. We begin to walk toward the Haunted Mansion but it's becoming clear to the both of us that it's time to go. Its barely noon and walking down Main Street is like trying to swim upstream, in a sauna. I can't even imagine using up a Park Hopper day and arriving to crowds like this. No wonder some people come to WDW once and never return. I wouldn't.
We have the bus all to ourselves on the way back. Since the Jamaica quiet pool is closed we walk over to the Aruba pool for what has become our afternoon ritual of napping and beer. I do like the quiet pools here. I expecially like the hammocks on the beach. Very relaxing after our experiences of the morning.
We spend an extra long time at the happy hour pool and it's quite late by the time we shower and are ready for our evening. I've had a long time to think things over. The way I figure it everyone MUST have gotten discouraged by those crowds and left. Therefore the MK must be practically empty by now, right? Besides I really want to see Wishes.
Boy, was I ever wrong! If anything, the crowds are worse than ever. We wait in line for a Dole Whip and mill around Adventureland. We wait in line for Pirates of the Carribean only to have some woman take flash pictures (turning to face the rear of the boat and, thereby, us for that extra-blinding effect) pretty much non-stop until I protest. We push through the madding crowd toward the Haunted Mansion only to find an hour long line. Throughout all Scott has maintained a brooding silence. I HATE this. I'm the type that expresses her opinion loudly and often. While this may be somewhat obnoxious you usually know where you stand with me. With Scott you get a conversation like this:
Me: Are you okay, honey?
Scott (in a grim tone): I'm fine.
Me: Are you sure? Because you look...
Scott (interrupting): I said I was fine.
Me: What you want to do next?
Scott (appropriately long-faced): I don't care.
After 24 years of marriage I've learned to interpret this to mean:
A. He's not fine.
B. He's miserable and wants to leave
C. He thought he was going to Orange Beach when he agreed to miss work for this.
Anyway, on the way back from the Old Port Royale bus stop, I finally locate the raison d'etre for Scott's deep discontent. At the pool bar is a small but happy crowd of men. Of course they're happy. They've got beers in their hands and the LSU-Florida game on the telly. Why doesn't he ever tell me these things? It woud save us so much trouble.
I never did get to see Wishes.
Jennifer
