Magic, Memories and..... MCSPARKELSONS! A Christmas Grand Gathering! Update 5/1

[CRdisMom]

i have never seen spectro so I have nothing to compare MSEP to. Bad me. I'm sorry that you missed most of the castle show. Evie and I balled. I mean full on tears rolling, shoulder shaking, klenex filing crying. It was awesome. I think it might have been worse because my IHPs weren't with me (indoor homeless people--think about your kids for a min. They beg beg and really don't do much and would rather sleep in a cardboard box--but I digress) Wishes always always kills me. Glad you got to see that one with Jeff. We do hope he returns to the maddness

 

[rndmr2]

Great Update! We missed MSEP this last trip, I really wanted to go but the only day it worked to go see it was our last night, we would have barely made it and had to high tail it there and by then I was soo tired I just couldn't do it anymore. DH and I were the only ones who were going to go anyway (everyone else had already bowed out) so we didn't go.

 

[podsnel]

Plastic zebras from 1971....THAT'S Jeff's thing??????

Fascinating.....

 

[Simba22]

love the balloon pic!

glad you found seats for the parade! I've never seen MSEP but most of the DISers I talk to seem to like Spectro better. I do love me some SpectroMagic...I keep hoping it will be back in time for our July trip but I have a feeling the MSEP is still going to be here...

Ahhh BTMRR at night is the best, isn't it? I love riding it in the dark!

 

[karajeboo]

I love Alice on the mushroom and now I can't get the words from the song "Go Ask Alice" out of my head.

Sadly, I have not seen the MSEP parade yet, but I will in June and I'm sure my evening will go somewhat like yours since there will be 9 of us and 4 under the age of 12.

Love your mainstreet pictures. I already miss Christmas.

Thanks MaryEllen! Now I'm singing Go Ask Alice, too!!!!

i have never seen spectro so I have nothing to compare MSEP to. Bad me. I'm sorry that you missed most of the castle show. Evie and I balled. I mean full on tears rolling, shoulder shaking, klenex filing crying. It was awesome. I think it might have been worse because my IHPs weren't with me (indoor homeless people--think about your kids for a min. They beg beg and really don't do much and would rather sleep in a cardboard box--but I digress) Wishes always always kills me. Glad you got to see that one with Jeff. We do hope he returns to the maddness

OMG indoor homeless people!!!!

Great Update! We missed MSEP this last trip, I really wanted to go but the only day it worked to go see it was our last night, we would have barely made it and had to high tail it there and by then I was soo tired I just couldn't do it anymore. DH and I were the only ones who were going to go anyway (everyone else had already bowed out) so we didn't go.

Jeff liked MSEP better than Spectro..... he's weird though.

Plastic zebras from 1971....THAT'S Jeff's thing??????

Fascinating.....

See above. He has other issues too, not the place to divulge ALL of them!

love the balloon pic!

glad you found seats for the parade! I've never seen MSEP but most of the DISers I talk to seem to like Spectro better. I do love me some SpectroMagic...I keep hoping it will be back in time for our July trip but I have a feeling the MSEP is still going to be here...

Ahhh BTMRR at night is the best, isn't it? I love riding it in the dark!

It is fun riding at night! Kinda like riding Space Mtn after dark....

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I've never seen Spectro, but I have seen MSEP 30 years ago! We didn't see it last Sept since DIL was anxious to do some serious park touring.

I have a new ticker, Yay! Doing Disney a more casual way with just the DH by my side!

 

[karajeboo]

I've never seen Spectro, but I have seen MSEP 30 years ago! We didn't see it last Sept since DIL was anxious to do some serious park touring.

I have a new ticker, Yay! Doing Disney a more casual way with just the DH by my side!

Oh Mother of Wicket you will have a great time! I think my favorite ways to see WDW are with just one other person - either just me and Jeff or just me and Ally. Both ways are so relaxing and fun!!!

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Your updates always make me laugh THANK YOU!!!

I could look at pictures of Main Street decorated for Christmas all day long. It's so pretty!!

Boo on not having a fun Jungle Cruise captain. It seems like the girls aren't as enthusiastic as the boys when it comes to captains on this ride... which is saying a lot. BECAUSE GIRLS ARE ALWAYS MORE EXCITING!

I've never seen the MSEP, so I don't know how I'd like it over Spectro (which holds my heart ) but the pictures make it seem fun!

 

[soontobewed07]

Kara your dad just cracks me up
We loved Via Napoli and it was a great suggestion from you

 

[heathers4um]

On board, caught up and happy to find another TR from you!

I TOTALLY relate to your 'let's go' feelings with the big crowd...almost like herding cattle. Cattle with ADHD...and no prozac, ridlin or whatever they are giving nowadays. I do say all this with love...I have family too! Im always such a commando park visitor - no dallying....lets GO! !

LOVE LOVE LOVE your dad's poems...what a legacy he is leaving behind as each special ocassion goes by. Have you thought about making a book of them? How sweet...

You're making me want to try the EPCOT resorts! DH and I love to wander the BW when we go to ESPN (his fave, ok one of mine too)...its always so beautiful and such a sense of happiness and serenity comes over me. Maybe the trip after our next, which will be with DSP and DN (step-princess and niece) - its DSP's 10th brithday and we will be home for a week - in late JULY!

 

[karajeboo]

Your updates always make me laugh THANK YOU!!!

I could look at pictures of Main Street decorated for Christmas all day long. It's so pretty!!

Boo on not having a fun Jungle Cruise captain. It seems like the girls aren't as enthusiastic as the boys when it comes to captains on this ride... which is saying a lot. BECAUSE GIRLS ARE ALWAYS MORE EXCITING!

I've never seen the MSEP, so I don't know how I'd like it over Spectro (which holds my heart ) but the pictures make it seem fun!

It's like the women on JC try too hard to be funny. I mean, the funniest one we ever had was a woman, and I don't just mean funny LOOKING.... although she was. But she didn't try - it just came naturally to her.

Kara your dad just cracks me up
We loved Via Napoli and it was a great suggestion from you

On board, caught up and happy to find another TR from you!

I TOTALLY relate to your 'let's go' feelings with the big crowd...almost like herding cattle. Cattle with ADHD...and no prozac, ridlin or whatever they are giving nowadays. I do say all this with love...I have family too! Im always such a commando park visitor - no dallying....lets GO! !

LOVE LOVE LOVE your dad's poems...what a legacy he is leaving behind as each special ocassion goes by. Have you thought about making a book of them? How sweet...

You're making me want to try the EPCOT resorts! DH and I love to wander the BW when we go to ESPN (his fave, ok one of mine too)...its always so beautiful and such a sense of happiness and serenity comes over me. Maybe the trip after our next, which will be with DSP and DN (step-princess and niece) - its DSP's 10th brithday and we will be home for a week - in late JULY!

Um, where have you BEEN???? I'm already on Day 3.....

You do realize my dad is reading along, don't you? He was born with an extra large cranium, and it's gotten even bigger from you crazy people!!! And trust me, the large noggin is NOT to hold a large brain. Trust me. I mean, seriously folks, TRUST ME!!!!

Nothin like the Epcot resorts. Other than AKL - there is a serenity in AKL also, just relaxing by a fire (not in JULY though!) and watching those beautiful animals outside your window. It's like being in Africa, well, minus the whole circle of life thing that includes the giraffe AND the cheetah.

 

[jmskinner]

I wonder how you would handle herding that cattle if you just had one day in each park? I had a large group like that at Epcot one time, having Jonas who can't walk slow to save his life kept us moving.

Enjoying this TR, but it is also making me miss WDW so much.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

i have never seen spectro so I have nothing to compare MSEP to. Bad me. I'm sorry that you missed most of the castle show. Evie and I balled. I mean full on tears rolling, shoulder shaking, klenex filing crying. It was awesome. I think it might have been worse because my IHPs weren't with me (indoor homeless people--think about your kids for a min. They beg beg and really don't do much and would rather sleep in a cardboard box--but I digress) Wishes always always kills me. Glad you got to see that one with Jeff. We do hope he returns to the maddness

Good one!

Plastic zebras from 1971....THAT'S Jeff's thing??????

Fascinating.....

I can hear the wheels turning right now.


I love JC at night! Maybe because it's harder to see the moving parts. Too bad your captain was a dud.
I loved, loved, loved the ORIGINAL ELP - bought the VHS tape the last year it ran. I was just thinking I need to get a DVD now because we don't have a VCR. "atenna with tin foil" Okay, there are some things that are better with technology. I used to get so frustrated at work - I would say, just bring me back my IBM typewriter and a dial phone! I have now joined the 21st century - almost.

Funny how you so readily traded Jeff out for Todd

 

[karajeboo]

Up and at 'em!!! I didn't have my alarm clock named Jeff today, because he was out the door around 5am, heading to the airport......

But I did have Grandpa stopping by to get my coffee mug on his way to the BW Bakery for my morning joe.....

I did have to get up early every day to answer emails for work, and handle a few issues each day. Not a big deal, and it's the tradeoff I agreed to since I was leaving during our busiest time of year.

One thing Jeff was really upset about.... no, it wasn't missing AK, not even missing O'hana - well he WAS upset about that since he's never eaten there....

He was really upset that today was the first day we all wore our own NON-MATCHING clothes!!!!

We all met downstairs and made our way out to the bus to Animal Kingdom today.....

This park never ceases to amaze me. Every time I'm here I find something new to explore. I just love that Disney doesn't miss any details!

Kami, Spencer, and Ally acting stupid, er, I mean, acting like... I don't know. What ARE they????

Zombies?

The obligatory Tree of Life photo. Not sure if Mom and Dad really got a good look at how amazing this is. All the animals carved into it. I remember seeing this on our honeymoon in 1998 only 2 weeks after AK opened. Jeff and I were fascinated by the Tree....

We sent Kami, Todd and Ally off to grab fast passes for Everest, while I led the gimps back to Kilimanjaro Safari. We had time for about 17 potty breaks by the time they got back.

Just sayin.....

Now let me just tell you a little secret. I've always heard that KS is best in the early morning before the Florida sun gets hot. And we've almost always done this first every visit. We did try it once in the afternoon and there were a few animals out, but it's true that the AM is the best time.

But nothing like this trip.

I mean, EVERY animal was out in force. A M A Z I N G!!!!! I hate that Jeff missed it!!!!

Black Rhino - VIDEO - click to play!

See the baby elephant!!!! Awesome!

Elephant - VIDEO - click to play!

Look how beautiful this Cheetah is......

Wait, watch video to see his mate!!!!! NEVER have I seen even one, let alone BOTH cheetahs out and about! Must have been Date Night!

Cheetahs - VIDEO - click to play!

I love the zoo, but for those of you who went to Animal Kingdom back in it's early days, you'll know that it is Nahtazoo....... Still, I just LOVE Killimanjaro Safari and this was THE BEST safari I've ever taken. And our guide was wonderful!!!

I mean, even THIS guy was awake!!!!

And his lovely bride was around too! Sleeping of course, because the female is the hunter, so she was probably wiped out from hunting up some kibbles and bits in her "I :> Giraffes" bowl.....

After KS, we walked the Pangani Trail for a bit....

Spencer made a friend....

Sheesh they act like they've never been to Red Lobster before....

And of course, being the good Buckeyes they are....

Standing on the bridge for what seemed like hours, I was trying to get a photo of our group, and finally a wonderful CM showed up to scoot everyone out of our way and take our pic....

Little did she know she'd end up in her OWN shot!

We worked our way over to Dinoland because my handy dandy WDW app showed no wait for Dinosaur.

Thank goodness Jeff was not here. He absolutely HATES this! We rode it in '98 when it was called "Countdown to Extinction." I guess that was politically incorrect because it was changed to just simply "Dinosaur" at some point.....

I think Jeff calls it "That *&$%#@* Ride" Yeah, he's not a big fan. If you've ever ridden with us, and are unfortunate enough to sit next to him, he was in your lap. If you sat in front of him, he was in your lap. If you sat behind him, he was in your lap. If Animal Kingdom is "Nahtazoo" then Jeff is "Nahtafan" of Dinosaur......

So of course Ally took a pic of us heading into the attraction and texted Daddy to remind him that he's a big ole chicken.....

And when we made it safely back from the Cretaceous period, we let him know. I'm sure he was worried......

We all had lunch at Restaurantosaurus.... the usual lunch grub. Burgers and sandwiches....

The kids all wanted to hit Primeval Whirl so we directed Gma and Gpa to Flights of Wonder. We gave Gpa a map, and a showtime guide, and sent them on their way. And then wondered if we'd see them again......

We made it through PW in about 10 minutes so we decided to catch up to Gma and Gpa and take in FoW also.... I've seen this a couple of times and even though it's not one of those "main" attractions, I highly recommend it. Kami, Todd and the kids were all pleasantly surprised..... Fun, fun show, and a nice 20 minute rest from the chaos that can be Animal Kingdom......

Well, helloooooo Goofy!

Speaking of fastpasses..... okay, in MY mind there were voices, and they were speaking of fastpasses....

We kept checking my handy dandy WDW app (cause there IS an app for that!), and it was telling us that Expedition Everest was shut down.....

So needless to say the fastpasses were burning a hole in Todd's pocket. Seriously, he had a hole. In his pocket. From the fastpasses. They were hot.

This is what Everest looked like.

And thank GOODNESS I was not on there!!! Although I did text a couple people and told them that I was on that train..... Sorry, Ellen!

After FoW, Kami and her clan wanted to go see the Pooh characters, so I took the gimps and headed to stake out spots for Nemo: The Musical.

I just LOVE this show! It's so colorful and it's fun to see how you can completely forget about the puppeteers and just focus on the puppets!!!

And that's when it happened.

My back started to ache. And my throat started to hurt. And I felt it.

The fever.

Nooooooo! Tom Hanks once said... "There's no crying in baseball!"

And Kara said on December 13, 2011, "There's no getting sick in Disney World!"

Kami, et al, showed up right before showtime and we all enjoyed the show. As we left, we split up for some reason. And I told them all to meet us (yup, me and the gimps) at Festival of the Lion King, before we called it a day at Animal Kingdom. Right then we heard EE running.

Kami texted me that they were going to go ride, which worked for me. We arrived early for the show and were able to save seats behind us for the rest.

And we were elephants.

I've never been a Lion. I mean, it's Festival of the LION King, right? I've seen it 16,439 times... and never been a lion.

I've been a giraffe. Whoopee.

I've been a warthog. Makes me feel dirty.

And I've been an elephant. Again.

But never a lion......

Oh well.....

I think he was mocking me....

I KNOW he was mocking me.... Not sure but I think in the song I heard, "you are not a lion, nah nah nah nah nah nahhhhhhh."

Even the tumble monkeys laughed at me....

Continued next post.....

 

[karajeboo]

On the way out of AK, I met a boy who overheard me talking about Space Mountain. Next thing I know, this little guy says, "YOU rode Space Mountain?"

Kara: Yes, have you ridden it?
Lil Guy: Not yet but I really want to.
Kara: Well you should do it!
Lil Guy: I will tomorrow. Have you ridden Rock n Rollercoaster?
Kara: I sure have, how bout you?
Lil Guy: Not yet. Where are you from?
Kara: South Carolina.....
Lil Guy: You're AMERICAN?
Kara: Yes, have you ever met an American before? There might be a few more of us around here.....
Lil Guy: I'm from Canada.
Kara: Really? You're CANADIAN? Do you say "aboot" Are you from the Great White North?
Lil Guy:

We continued to walk together toward the busses, and wouldn't you know it, Lil Guy and his family got on the same bus we did to Polynesian!
I talked to Big Guy and Big Gal a bit, but Lil Guy was my buddy. We chatted the whole way to the Poly about very important things. Where is the best place to find Mickey, What are my favorite foods, and Where in the world is South Carolina?

I did my best Deliverance banjo and The Bigs chuckled a bit. So I told those hosers to take off, eh?

OK, so my northern geography is learned from Strange Brew, eh?

We parted ways when we arrived and I bid Lil Guy and magical vacation.....

We arrived at the Poly a few minutes before our 5pm ADR and I made a beeline for the gift shop to get some drugs.... I mean medicine. I grabbed Zicam and some overpriced daytime and nighttime cold medicine.

After all, "There's no getting sick in Disney World!!!!"

Soon our pager went off and we were on our way to O'Hana for dinner....

Um, sick or not (and I was NOT sick.....), first things first....

And sadly, that was the best part of the meal.....

I was so UNIMPRESSED with O'Hana. After all our many trips to the World and NEVER able to snag and ADR, I was sooooo looking forward to this meal! Jeff was so sad he was missing it!

I texted him throughout that he missed nothing.

Appys.....

Eh, okay.

Meat on a stick.....

Dry. Just not appealing. Everything was overcooked. Chicken, pork, beef. All just shy of shoe leather.

The BBQ shrimp that came out were a MESS. I love shrimp, but it was not shelled, and coated in sticky BBQ sauce. Not fun.

And the veggies and sides? Those came out AFTER the meat. So we had no side dishes for our meat.

It was pretty inside, and kind of festive.....

This was the most expensive of ALL our meals, and Jeff wasn't even there!!! And definitely the least favorite. So sad......

Well, except for this......

OMG! To die for bread pudding!!!!

Our two servers were less than stellar. They never came back to check on us. Not once. One got drink orders. One got food coming. Brought it whenever she felt like it. And never came back.

Dropped off two bread puddings so she wouldn't have to come back. Just really disappointed.

And those of you who read my TRs know that I'm pretty easy going. Not much bothers me at WDW. But this bothered me.

And then there was "this."

The best I can describe "that" is a Polynesian Charo.

Seriously.

I was waiting for the coochi coochi. Or at least a reference to the Love Boat.....

But she totally played up Gma and Gpa's anniversary....

And yes, that's a ukelele.....

Coochi Coochi!

But I forgave her. Because her cheesiness actually made us all giggle. Even AFTER the bill came.....

Coochi Coochi!

We got out of there about 7 and headed back for some pool time. Well, Gpa and Kami took the kids to the pool while Kami did a load of laundry.....

I answered some emails and went to bed early.... NOT that I was sick or anything!!!!

Coochi Coochi!

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

So sorry you had a bad experience at O'Hana. I've only been there for breakfast and it's always been great.

I hope in your next installment you tell us you really weren't sick. Maybe you got a sprinkling of Pixie Dust in your sleep and were all better when you woke up the next morning. That's always my fear after all the planning and waiting that one of my family members gets sick while there.

 

[karajeboo]

So sorry you had a bad experience at O'Hana. I've only been there for breakfast and it's always been great.

I hope in your next installment you tell us you really weren't sick. Maybe you got a sprinkling of Pixie Dust in your sleep and were all better when you woke up the next morning. That's always my fear after all the planning and waiting that one of my family members gets sick while there.

I drugged up pretty well, but I was sick. I swear by Zicam and Vitamin C though and because I started early and kept up with the doses, I never got "bad" sick. Just enough to put me at about 50% for a day or so. By the end of the next day, I was already feeling better.....

 

[JKSWonder]

O'Hana for breakfast is good, but we have never been there for dinner. The menu just didn't appeal to us. And there is something strange about the service in that restaurant. We've been twice, different servers each time, and had the same experience as you...disappearing acts.

We really liked the dinner at Kona though. Food was very good (DH's teriyaki steak was outrageously good) and our server was incredibly sweet and attentive.

 

[CRdisMom]

The last two times we have been toOhanna is has been ehh. Did you do a minnsoder impression for the cannuck? Ya know their my neighbor...LOL.

Did we ever figure out if we were there at the same time in '98? I was in October 24-30 I think. Love your families and how many hours until sailing???

 

[jamiesmom07]

Most entertaining trip report I have read in a looooooooooooooong time (and I do my share of trip report reading).

Can't wait for the next installment!!