Okay. So I’ve finally – FINALLY! – made it to the day of Fockerfest 2008. Only, we’re still not there yet. This was one jam-packed day, so it’ll still be a bit before I get to the actual Fest. Sorry.
Before I get into the details, let’s talk a little about the title of this installment. With all the time LL, T and I spent together this trip, I learned something about how much more efficient, supportive and effective we parents can be when we act as a team. I’d seen it first at the SSR pool, then at Turf Club, and for sure at AK. But this MK day was the crowning glory of the Village theory. I’ll explain further as I tell the story of this day, but trust V… it really does take a Village. A Focker Village.
This was one of the few days of the trip in which we actually stuck to The Plan. Mostly. The Plan called for rope drop at the MK with T and LL, and Jo was a definite maybe.
Just as The Plan dictated, I was at the Springs bus stop at the appointed time. Waiting for the MK bus. At some point, either I checked in with T and LL or they checked in with me, but everyone else was running a teensy bit late.
HA!
Let it be duly noted that
I was not late that day!
And, to be fair, neither were T or LL in the end. What I was, was really early.
HA!
Let it be duly noted that
I was early that day!
Anyway, T made it on a MK bus and Leo and I jumped on when it got to the Springs stop. LL missed that one, but was following closely behind in the next bus.
Which was just fine. Because we had
plenty of time. Plenty. That may well have been the longest rope drop wait I’ve ever experienced. LY T!
Waiting…
Waiting…
Still waiting.
Take a good look at Waldo’s face in that last one… he’d had it with the rope-drop-wait. I know because he and I may have shared an editorial comment or two about being there so dang early. LY T!
Heh heh.
Once the rope dropped, we all headed in, ready to begin The Plan. S. PLANS. That’s right, pluralize that Plan. Supersize it. Because we had a bunch of younguns and they had ideas. T’s plan called for Dumbo first. Leo’s not a fan of that one, so my Plan called for Buzz first, then meeting up with T at the next stop – Small World, I think? I’m not sure what LL’s Plan was, but I’m betting Michael had some input there, too.
But here’s where things get interesting – the kids wanted to stick together. So much so, they worked through it without little or no prompting from us grown-ups. We just made sure everyone was okay with changes in the Plan. And it didn’t take long at all for The Plans to get tossed out the window as we all decided to ride Peter Pan first.
Village baybee!
Walking down Main St., we ran into Jo and family on their way to Buzz. I’m sorry we didn’t get any rides in with you guys!
I’m not sure just why we were hanging around Peter Pan long enough to take a bunch of pictures, but I got all these:
Wait a sec… I’m IN that last one! Apparently we dilly-dallied outside Peter Pan so long, a bunch of us got pictures!
The Village may be effective, but its sometimes slow.
Anyway, we quickly discovered that the kids have to be 7 to ride alone, so I wound up in a ship with all three. Don’t worry – we had fun flying together, and other Villagers would get their turns later.
See?!
That’s on Small World. Note the look on my buddy Michael’s face. You may at first think he looks as joyous as his fellow passengers about this little drift through dollyland (NODollywood). But. You’d be wrong. Michael made it abundantly clear that he found Small World “LAME!” Exclamation point.
Hee hee, I don’t know if LL ever knew, but I agreed. With Michael. LAME! Exclamation point. And he and I may have had a few more disparaging remarks about the boat ride through hell. But you know what? We rode it anyway. To enjoy every minute with our long-distance friends.
Village baybee!
Also, because T had virtually promised we’d find ourselves a Dream if we rode the stupid ride. Heh heh. And…
She was RIGHT!
Sure enough, just like it read in T’s Plan, the Dream Squad was waiting for us as we walked out of IASW. Sure, it wasn’t a lifetime pass, nor yet a DVC membership. But it wasn’t a certificate either, so Leo and I were satisfied.
Next up was Pooh and then the Teacups. Remember how much Leo enjoyed the Teacups our first day of this trip?
No, really – do you remember? The first day? I know, it’s been a while. Trust V – he liked it.
So he was only too happy to do it again, with friends. I needed a visit to the loo, so LL took on the job of Master Spinner with Michael, Maddie and Leo.
Let’s zoom in on that one, shall we?
Sorry LL – Leo said you span “too fast for his head to keep up!”
Okay, after the cups, we played a round on BUZZ LIGHTYEAR! And I beat the pants off Leo. As usual. I’m mean like that.
The rest of the gang wanted to do Carrousel of Progress, but Leo was feeling the need for speed. He and I headed off to the Barnstormer, then met back up with the group for a round on the People Mover. T took her turn as chaperone (okay, it’s possible that LL, Tony and I may have jumped into a car and left T with the kids.)
And here’s what was so great about our group: after the ride, T made the call. Without hesitation and without fear of anyone getting all weird about it, she explained that while her ride was enjoyable, the natives were getting restless and it might be time to break up the youngest villagers for a while.
T? I loved you more than ever for saying that! You were 100% correct and I’m so glad we did it. They definitely needed a break in the action before someone got ugly.
Village baybee!
Leo and I decided to hit Pirates before going back to the hotel, and then had to stop for a Dole Whip.
Technically, it was lunch time, but I really wanted to GET OUT of the MK for lunch, so I figured the Dole Whip would buy us another 20 minutes before blood sugar levels came crashing down to rock bottom. It worked and we went straight to Artist’s Palette when we got back to SSR. I’m pretty sure I had the chicken & artichoke flatbread that time, and it was wonderful!
Did you notice anything from the pictures this day? No rain.
NO RAIN!!!!
It was sunny and hot, and the pool beckoned. As Leo took all eternity getting himself pool-ready, I took a few snapshots of the little things in my SSR Studio that I love so much.
Why on earth doesn’t EVERY single room in WDW have a coat rack?! This thing is a godsend. Do you see the volume of crap I’ve got stored there? That’s approximately 15 things that would otherwise be tossed about the room. I actually love my hooks so much that I’m hesitant to stay in any rooms that don’t have them.
I also really love this:
In the field of marketing, it’s widely known that women can be sold pretty much anything if it comes is a tiny little package.
Tiny little sink. Tiny little dish soap and tiny little sponge. What’s not to love?
Anyway. We did eventually get to the main pool, where we found T’s family and enjoyed some time swimming with them…
… before heading to the Grandstand pool, where we found Michael and Tony. I swear I wasn’t stalking – we just all had the same ideas! And it was a really nice way to spend the afternoon.
It was also the finishing touch on an already tiring day. I could see the exhaustion on Leo’s face and
knew he had to have a nap before the big party that night. Frankly, so did I. I also knew we didn’t have a lot of time, once showers and dressing for dinner got figured in.
What I’m saying is, I pretty much knew what would happen, but we took the naps anyway.
Continued in next post...
I suppose I should read everyone elses comments before posting, huh? 
Wither that, or next time I wear a hat
But isn't the DIS just great for creating friendships? I am so glad I started posting here and have been amazed at the great friends I've made already and I'm sure I'll continue to make. 
