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

[jmskinner]

I would be the same way, just bursting to at least see the castle. And glad to see you still tear up when you see the castle.

The smooch pic is very cute. What a great memory!

 

[karajeboo]

Hi Kara!

I'm not sure if I've ever posted on one of your reports (I'm more of a lurker), but I've been with all the DisMoms since the first trip way back when and I LOVE your reports (and Ellen's too!!). That was a great update! I love the video of you guys walking up Main Street and you can hear Ally say "Yup, she's crying." Also, the picture of your parents on Main Street just about melted my heart . So sweet!! Thanks for sharing your trips!!

Welcome out of lurkdom!!! I really appreciate you saying that, very sweet!!!! Sharing my trips is a way for ME to relive them!!!

Love the pic of your folks and the smooch! 50 years and still together after raising you two crazy girls? give them a medal!

We seem to be the same way at MK. It takes us about an hour to get to the hub too! Gotta pee, meet some characters, talk to the fireman, buy hats now for embroidery to pick up later, get a snack, pee again, and then it's ride time!

Let's just say my mom is very patient. Or is it my dad?

one time we actually took photos of all of the bathrooms we visited with my family. It was insane.

Love that your dad and mom looked so happy to be there with you all.

Thanx Laura! I think my dad was just a little giddy....

Love the family picture in front of the castle. I have to agree about the decorations blocking the view - not good.

I had to laugh at the video of you walking up Main Street and Ally looks at the camera and said "She's crying already". Didn't she say that a few times on the cruise?? That's ok - I get misty too.

EVERY time Kristi!!! I cry EVERY time I walk onto Main St! They just laugh at me.... I think that Jeff and Ally both are ready to have me committed!

TWO crazy girls? Shall I remind you, only ONE of us laminated note cards!!!



We started to take pictures of all teh bathroom stops as well, but by day 2, I was running out of space on my memory card!!!

I would be the same way, just bursting to at least see the castle. And glad to see you still tear up when you see the castle.

The smooch pic is very cute. What a great memory!

I will ALWAYS cry when I first see the castle!!!! It's starting off to be a great trip! So when is your next trip? I saw on FB you booked another!

 

[podsnel]

I'm all teared up now- you can tell Ally I'm not just CRAZY, I'm a SAP too, just like her Mama!

That was SO SWEET with your parents kissing...and I BET you were already exhausted...LMAO!

 

[soontobewed07]

Kara I have to agree with PODS I was in tears too I loved the look on your dads face he was in complete Aw I have to say that I cry everytime I step through those gates and see that magic castle

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Such great pictures, Ally with the Princesses, is just wonderful. She has a great facial expression, she still likes them!

Crying on Main St. is what decided me on taking my granddaughters on their first Disney trip!

 

[dvc4life]

Love the welcoming photos going in to the MK. The ones of just your parents are soooo sweet. Love them. And they look like kids! Your dad looks like he is lots of fun and your mom is so sweet, but boy does she have sparkle about her that says she can be a corker!

 

[karajeboo]

I'm all teared up now- you can tell Ally I'm not just CRAZY, I'm a SAP too, just like her Mama!

That was SO SWEET with your parents kissing...and I BET you were already exhausted...LMAO!

I was just pooped..... And I KNOW you are a sap! I've sat by you in "One Man's Dream!"

Kara I have to agree with PODS I was in tears too I loved the look on your dads face he was in complete Aw I have to say that I cry everytime I step through those gates and see that magic castle

Even though MK is not my favorite park, Cinderella's castle IS Walt Disney World, to me. Worldwide, everyone knows what that stands for, even if they haven't been there......

Such great pictures, Ally with the Princesses, is just wonderful. She has a great facial expression, she still likes them!

Crying on Main St. is what decided me on taking my granddaughters on their first Disney trip!

Oh Mother of Wicket, don't you know..... I think the princesses are still "real." It's the "big head" characters that she has told me she knows are not. However, she still believes there is a real Mickey somewhere, but knows that he can't be everywhere at once, so he needs "helpers" in costume. Kinda like Santa!

How old were your granddaughters when you took them?

Love the welcoming photos going in to the MK. The ones of just your parents are soooo sweet. Love them. And they look like kids! Your dad looks like he is lots of fun and your mom is so sweet, but boy does she have sparkle about her that says she can be a corker!

You head the nail on the head there!!!! Both my parents can be super ornery!!!! Thank goodness I take after the mailman....

 

[CRdisMom]

Hey I thought we all had something in our eyes during that show...lol

 

[jmskinner]

I will ALWAYS cry when I first see the castle!!!! It's starting off to be a great trip! So when is your next trip? I saw on FB you booked another!

We booked for August 18-25th. Staying onsite, but planning on going to Legoland and Star Wars Celebrations at the Orlando Convention Center on the 25th. Jacob has school on the 27th, so we will be driving all day Sunday to get home.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Oh funny Mother of Allie, my granddaughters are 5 & 8, we went this past September. My first ever TR is in progress now. See the link below my siggie.

My eldest GD wasn't interested in the Princesses until she started meeting them. It was love at first sight!

 

[disneychic]

LOVING your TR!!!! Can't wait to read more! It's totally helping me pass the days until our trip in 3 weeks! Also, I'm loving your custom t-shirts.......they look so good in the photos-I'm thinking I should do this for our group!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Okay, I was gonna call you a sap for making me cry, but I see we were all crying, so it's okay! It is so fun to see all the excitement and family joy, and all your planning coming together for your parents! It is great that they are really enjoying each moment!

 

[karajeboo]

Hey I thought we all had something in our eyes during that show...lol

I hate when that happens!

We booked for August 18-25th. Staying onsite, but planning on going to Legoland and Star Wars Celebrations at the Orlando Convention Center on the 25th. Jacob has school on the 27th, so we will be driving all day Sunday to get home.

Hey, at least you have your priorities straight.... Jacob may be exhausted his first day of school but at least you wore him out at Disney!

Oh funny Mother of Allie, my granddaughters are 5 & 8, we went this past September. My first ever TR is in progress now. See the link below my siggie.

My eldest GD wasn't interested in the Princesses until she started meeting them. It was love at first sight!

Well Mother of Wicket.... I will go check out your TR!!!

LOVING your TR!!!! Can't wait to read more! It's totally helping me pass the days until our trip in 3 weeks! Also, I'm loving your custom t-shirts.......they look so good in the photos-I'm thinking I should do this for our group!

Jeff is not happy with me - his golf buddies have been teasing him really bad about the shirts..... I made the mistake of tagging him on facebook! But it was worth it for the kids and for mom and dad. Ally wears hers to school and her teachers look forward to what she will wear the next day (yes, this week they asked her to wear each shirt).

Okay, I was gonna call you a sap for making me cry, but I see we were all crying, so it's okay! It is so fun to see all the excitement and family joy, and all your planning coming together for your parents! It is great that they are really enjoying each moment!

You can still call me a sap, I've been called worse..... And what is it about that pile of rock at the end of Main St????

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

It's okay, Kara - I cry when I see the castle, too! Especially when it's the first time of the trip. It's just one of those things!

Great pictures of everyone together with Mickey!

Your parents are too cute kissing in front of the castle. So sweet!

 

[karajeboo]

Once we escaped the clutches of Main St (without even SHOPPING!) it was time to pass through those pearly gates....

OK, not THOSE pearly gates! In fact, they may not even be pearly. And are there even gates?

Who knows! All I know is we were heading into Cindy's castle!!!!

Walking through the Castle - VIDEO - click to play!

I was just a little excited. Excited that nobody was detouring to a restroom.....

And our first stop?

I needed to check out the new Fantasyland construction....

Soon it was time to get our attractions on!!!!

We knew that Anklebiterland would be getting busy quickly so we opted to knock it out as quickly as we could this morning. I think this was a good plan, but in hindsight (who can really look at their own hind? ), it may have contributed somewhat to Gma and Gpa not really caring much for MK. We really did race through 3/4 of this park on the first day.....

So....

On your mark....

Get set....

GO!!!!!

First up was Snow White - no problem tossing Gma into one of those little mine cars.....

Then it was time for that which I have NEVER done....

Why? I have no earthly idea!

It was funny the way everyone mixed up their partners on all the rides. It was like one big family swingers convention!!!!

Judging by the look on Kami's face, I'm thinking THAT is why I don't ride things that go round... and round.... and round......

Grandma and I wandered around a bit while we waited, and chatted up a couple CMs who just loved the shirts! We heard this so much on the trip - Jeff just LOVED all the attention.... especially from his friends back home after I downloaded pics each night, then uploaded to facebook and tagged him in all the pics..... oops!

After Dumbo, we made our way to Pooh. This is sooooo NOT even close to my favorite ride. But again, it was easy for Gma to transfer from the wheelchair, so we did it. And since the last time I rode (I think I've maybe been on this twice at the most!) they have added some fun and creative games in the queue. And this queue gets LOOOOONG during peak times!

Besides, it was always a good thing to have something to keep Grandpa occupied while standing in line....

Grandpa, Spencer and I rode in our own car for this one, and afterwards, we had our own double super secret "call" for the rest of the day.

Every time we saw Tigger, we had to "Woo hoo hoo HOO!" Yeah, it was tough getting out of the dump shop after the ride..... I think we were on the verge of laryngtis from all the woo hoo hoo hooing......

For some crazy reason, Ally BEGGED us to go on Cinderella's Golden Carousel, which is no longer Cinderella's Golden Carousel. NO, it is not pearly......

It is now Prince Charming's Regal Carousel.

But because our sweet little princess wanted to go sooooo badly, no not to the restroom, that would come soon though..... but she wanted to ride it soooo badly, we let both girls go.

Watch Ally's face as she comes by the camera.......

Ally riding carousel - VIDEO - click to play!

I am sooooo glad we waited in line for THAT!

Only 5 minutes until the next showing of Mickey's Philharmagic - we're IN!

My dad, bein the stylin kinda dude he is, might have snagged these fancy shades for use later, if not for all of us making sure he dumped them in the bins on the way out......

Up next.... making a BIG splash before the big drop, in fact, before leaving the station!!!!

I would add more now but I"m having problems getting my videos uploaded to my computer....... And I'm just SURE you want to see more video!!!!

 

[jmskinner]

So, I'm not the only one that hasn't ridden Dumbo? Not for a lack of trying, the one day I planned to there was lightning.

Love ya'll running into the castle, too cute.

 

[karajeboo]

Got the videos uploading even as we speak, so by the time I get there, they should be ready!

Continuing on through Anklebiterland, it was time for that be all, end all of Fantasyland.....

Sing it sista!!!!

"It's a world of laughter a world of tears
I can't believe Walt won't let me buy a beer here
There's so much I could say
But this family forum says "no way"
It's a dry world after all...."

See? I really AM my father's daughter!!!!

One thing we discovered very quickly this first day.... well, not quick enough apparently, is that if it floats, it was not for Gma.....

We never gave it a second thought when getting on IASW because we nabbed the boat with wheelchair access, so she didn't have to transfer.

She could transfer fine, IF, and this is a very big IF... see? It really was a big IF, huh?

IF she didn't have to step DOWN. I'm sure Gma wishes we'd all figured this out earlier....

But getting into IASW was a breeze.

The flamenco dancers are always my favorite. Maybe because I visited Spain in high school. Or maybe it's because I wanna be a flamenco dancer when I grow up. Or maybe I just like saying "flamenco." It sounds like flamingo. Flamenco, Flamingo.....

OK, you've been there, you've done that. You don't need my photos. You probably didn't need my song either, cause now that little ditty (bout Jack and Diane) is stuck in your brain. So is that ditty. Now you don't know whether to sing some John Cougar, or John Mellencamp, or John Cougar Mellencamp, or Mellencamp (seriously, could this guy just pick a name????) or to sing WDW!!!!

But if you choose to sing IASW, you have a new version. You're welcome.....

Everyone wanted pizza so we opted for Pinocchio's Village Haus (that's HAUS, not HOUSE, so make sure you get your Gepetto on and pronounce it correctly). WE snagged a couple of tables overlooking IASW.

The kids all fought to sit by the window. I gave up my window seat to Grandma to try to make a point.

Yah, it was lost. And they kept fighting...... Darn that Walt and no beer in the Magic Kingdom!!!! It would be a LOT more magical with a good buzz around this group!

We all had pizza, and I mean ALL of us. Yet for some reason Grandpa kept asking Todd if he wanted his crust. "You want my crust?" Then he'd pick up Grandma's and ask Todd, "You want my crust?"

Todd very politely told him, "No thanks, I've got my own." We were both starting to chuckle a little bit, thinking of how gross it is to offer someone your pizza crust, after you've eaten off of it. You know how mushy it gets from slobber? Gross, right?????

So I decided to offer Todd MY crust, too. At that point, Todd looked at me, and said with a perfectly straight face, "can you lick it first?"

I am laughing almost as hard just remembering it and writing this, as I did the first time. Mom and Dad never did quite get it, but it was the running joke all week between Todd and I......

Guess you had to be there......

By the time we left Anklebiterland and made our way into Liberty Square, the lines were getting a bit longer. Our plan was to use our Splash FP, wait for BTMRR, and then come back through Adventureland, and save Tomorrowland for another day..... There was a MVMCP this night, so we wanted to bolt before those crowds started arriving.

They've also added some fun things to the Haunted Mansion queue, which acutally takes you the LONG way, but since we had never seen this, we took the long way... home. THERE! Another song for you!!!!

So now you've got a world of laughter and a world of tears, you have a ditty (bout Jack and Diane) and you've got a little Supertramp...... you're welcome.

It's a little goofy the way I could not figure out what had been removed or moved or what was going on, so I gave up.

Before long, we were through the line, and that's when we realized that we really took a long detour. But it was fun to see all the new toys.....

Next thing you know, the room is sinking, or is the roof growing? Those crazy grim grinning ghosts were out to socialize. Now don't close your eyes and don't try to hide, for a silly spook may sit by your side, shrouded in a daft disguise, they pretend to terrorize......

HA! Another one! Sing along!!!!! You're welcome, you small world, Mellencamp lovin Supertramp spooks!!!!!

We soon boarded our doom buggys and we were off!!!! I was kind of surprised that they didn't offer to slow down the conveyor belt to let Grandma get better footing. I think we all kind of felt like Lucy and Ethel at the candy factory, trying to hurry Grandma into her doom buggy before we ALL met our own doom!!!!

Luckily that's a nice long relaxing ride, so Jeff and I snuggled up in our doom buggy and relaxed for a bit.....

Now, don't get any funny ideas because there is no "snuggling" in Disney! They have cameras to catch just that action and you will be ejected from the park, do not pass GO, do not collect $200. Well, because if you're collecting $200 then you have even BIGGER problems!!! Shame on you!

We rolled out of Haunted Mansion and began the trek to the mountains. Along the way, Grandpa spotted what everyone spots who hasn't been to WDW in 30 years. Country Bear Jamboree......

No, Grandpa, we will come back later.

On to Splash Mtn! We didn't even use the fast passes we had because we got a HUGE wheelchair advantage on Splash Mtn. I mean, HUGE!!!!!

We did go straight to the front of the line, on the opposite side of where you get in. So that would be where you get out. Make sense?

Once our big ole log pulled up, (I think Steven Tyler's manager ordered us a Super Stretch!), we worked to help Grandma in first.

And that's when we thought it was over. Pearly Gates. Doom Buggy. You name it. We really did think it would the The Long Way Home (you're singing again, aren't you????).

When she stepped in, she sat down hard and her knee bent too far. She has two new knees from about 4 years ago, and they don't bend like they used to!

So she let out a scream. And it sent Jeff and I back to 2008 when we first arrived in WDW with HIS family and his mother took a tumble in the queue of Nemo and went down hard yelling, "My knee!"

Yup, both happened on the first day, and both times we thought, vacation over.

But luckily, once grandma got in, she was in. We didn't realize until later that it was just that her knee temporarily bent a bit too far. These logs ain't no cadillacs, there's not a lot of let room in the back seat.......

And since it was their 50th anniversary we gave them the backseat....

The whole ride I think we were all worried about Gma and how we were going to get her OUT of the log! Talk about a bump on a log!!!!!

It was after she got out, and we all spent the next hour asking, "Are you okay, Grandma?" that we realized she was fine.

She may have faked the whole thing just for the attention. In fact, that's my story and I"m sticking to it.......

Since she was a big ole faker..... again, MY story..... we decided to take her on Big Thunder Mtn Railroad. We all told her it was very mild and she'd be fine. After all, this is the woman who rode Scream Roller at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City with me when I was young - this was one of the first upside down roller coasters....

So in comparison, BTMRR is mild, right?

We got separated and I rode with Todd, Spencer and Kami, and Jeff, Mom, Dad, and the girls rode separately. They have a car with a special car for those with mobility issues. She still had to transfer but she had a LOT of room, and since we realized that leg room was the issue, we thought this would be fine.

Judge for yourself.

Big Thunder Mtn Railroad - VIDEO - click to play!

By the way, that would be Emma and Ally screaming the whole time. After riding Space Mtn with them later, I vowed never again.......

So, I don't think Mom cared too much for BTMRR......

Faker.

Since we still had the fast passes for Splash, Kami and Todd decided to take the kids and Jeff and I took the big kids who would not let go of Country Bear Jamboree!!!!

So off we went to see Ned, and Ted, and Zeke and Fred and whoever they are.......

I do know that Grandpa's snorts of laughter nearly got us kicked out, and then Jeff vowed never again to take me to an animatronics show, after I kept clapping after every segment.

And I realized I was the only one clapping.

What can I say? Those are some talented bears!

OK, my fingers are tired and I need to make dinner.... OK, who's kidding who? If you know me you'll know that I don't cook much, so I'm going to go do laundry or something domestic and wait for Jeff to get home and cook for me!

Up next, Adventureland and off to Epcot!!!!

 

[jedijill]

Mellencamp lovin Supertramp spooks!!!!! OMG, funniest update I've read in a LONG time!

BTW, you are dating yourself with some Scream Roller at WOF.

Jill in CO (formerly of KC!)

 

[karajeboo]

Mellencamp lovin Supertramp spooks!!!!! OMG, funniest update I've read in a LONG time!

BTW, you are dating yourself with some Scream Roller at WOF.

Jill in CO (formerly of KC!)

Yeah? Like I'm not dating myself with some Supertramp!

KC huh? I haven't been back in about 20 years but planning on taking Ally this summer just so she can see where I grew up! Gonna try to meet Gma and Gpa there for a long weekend.....

 

[CRdisMom]

those screams in the video remind me of going on EE with evie and joan. I'm going to miss you all when you go in May.