Magical Memories with a Side of Chicken Pox, Part 5

[Marseeya]

Cast:

Marcia: me, 38 years old, just recovering from a bout of chicken pox, obsessive planner of this whole trip
Dennis: DH, 33 years old, initiated the trip
Jonathon: DS, 14 years old and doesn't want to be at WDW at. all. Gets saved by the chicken pox.
Rhiannon: DD, 9 years old, a princess freak and so sweet and happy.

Dates of trip:
Check in Saturday, June 4
Check out Monday, June 13


Wednesday, June 8

Today was our late, lazy day. We woke up around 8 a.m. and then went to the pool and to do some laundry. Dennis, being the wonderful husband that he is, stuck around with the laundry while I went to the pool with Rhiannon. It was so nice and relaxing until all the other families started showing up – not that it was bad, but it just wasn’t the same. When the lifeguards came on duty, they did a little ceremony with the kids on the slide, where the kids shook maracas and called to the water spirits “Amati! Amati! Amati!” and the water started coming down the slide. It was really cute and the kids had a blast with it. The lifeguards are really nice and seem to enjoy their jobs.

After that, we did lunch at the Mara – I had African stew again and then got some to go for Jonathon – he loves that stew! I really need to get the recipe so I can make it for him at home. Later we’re doing Epcot for our PSB dinner.

Later:
Okay, we’re back from Epcot. Dennis went ahead of us to go hang out at MK, while we hung around the room relaxing and putting away the laundry. Jonathon’s a lot better today – the rash is practically healed, but he still doesn’t have much of an appetite. Rhiannon and I left for PSB around 4:30. First we stopped at Zawadi Marketplace to trade a pin and we saw a really great princess pin. We grabbed it and this family started talking to us because they’d just left that pin and started telling us the story of how they came to trade it. Anyway, we caught the bus, which took forever to come and we headed to Epcot.

There was no line to Spaceship Earth, so we rode it and hoped that Dennis wouldn’t mind us doing it without him, because when he was a kid, that was THE ride to do at Epcot. It was actually pretty enjoyable for me, and Rhiannon loved it. Then we “moseyed” over to WS to meet Dennis in Norway. We took our good sweet time because my feet had swelled to immense proportions earlier that day and going so slow worked really well. I had insertional tendonitis in my right foot and it’s coming back with a vengeance, and now I can feel it starting in my left foot too. I’m just not used to all this walking! I’ve been eating Motrin like candy trying to keep the pain at bay and hoping it’ll help the inflammation.

We finally met up with Dennis in Norway and we rode the Maelstrom with about a 10 minute wait, then we signed in for PSB at Akershus. I have to say, that dinner was a good bit nicer than CRT. It felt more cozy and I really liked our waiter – so much so that I took his picture with Rhiannon. What a cutie – his name was Andre. The princesses there were Aurora, Cinderella, Ariel, Jasmine, and Belle. Rhiannon was thrilled to see Ariel and I have to say, she was the nicest. I told her that I liked her legs and she did a little dance and told me how much fun she was having out of the sea. Dennis had a venison stew and I had braised lamb with cabbage. There was also this appetizer we shared that had different cheeses and salmons & salads (potato, chicken & shrimp). The dessert was really good too – I especially loved the “rice cream.”

We got done eating before 8, so we wandered over to FW to see if we could ride TT and ended up getting in the singles line for it. I was really worried about Rhiannon, so I asked the CM to make sure I got in a car that would exit before hers, and then we wanted Dennis to get off after her. It got a little mixed up, because when I got off the ride, I waited at the end and then along comes Dennis! Fortunately, Rhiannon wasn’t that far behind, but it was a tad bit nerve wracking. Even though she loves that ride so much, I don’t think it’s worth it to do the singles line and worry about her.

After that, we had just enough time to ride M:S – well, I did anyway as a single, because Rhiannon hated it. I rode it with a couple of teenaged girls, and they were hilarious! They were on a mission to be able to ride and do each assigned “role” on the ride, so they kept getting me to move around until they decided which one they wanted. We ended up getting stuck in the “mission room” pre-show area for quite a while and I wasn’t sure what that was all about. Then the girls kept giving me advice on when to push the buttons and trying to get me to close my eyes on the ride. Oh yeah, right! Silly girls. When the ride was over, the CMs were all standing there at the end, applauding us like we really did a great mission. Dennis and Rhiannon had gotten to see Illuminations from where they were standing, but I missed the whole thing by riding M:S! We hauled our butts out of the park, trying to beat the exiting masses and only had to wait a few minutes for the bus. Rushing out of the park like that really killed my feet.

Thursday, June 9
Today certainly wasn’t the best day we’ve had. I woke up with horribly swollen feet & ankles and was so tired. We caught the bus a little after 8 a.m. and got to MGM before opening and it was so crowded! My attitude wasn’t that great this day and I was in a bit of a bad mood, so this probably irritated me more than it would have any other day. Anyway, this family of adults in front of us had their other adult friends cut in line, because they arrived at the park later, plus we ended up in a slow line anyway because these same people couldn’t figure out the finger scan. ARGH. I’m sorry, but I hate line cutters. It’s one thing if mom has to take junior to the bathroom or they want to go sit on a bench or something, but if you’re meeting up with someone – either be there on time or meet later INSIDE the park. After that, we were herded to rope drop where the same family managed cut in front of us again. They had separated so that half of them could go shopping in a gift shop. It wouldn’t have been so bad, but everyone was totally crowded together and when they came back through, they were trying to squeeze themselves into a space where no adult could conceivably fit. That’s another thing that irritates me – lack of personal space in this crowd! It hasn’t been this bad at other parks, so I don’t know why it is here.

At rope drop, Dennis went off to RnR for FP and Rhiannon and I headed to ToT. The crowds were pretty bad at that point and they were practically running to the ride and to hell with anyone in their way! I couldn’t believe the behavior I was seeing, because I hadn’t witnessed anything like it up to this point. By the time Dennis got the FP, we all three got in line for ToT (which, not being line cutters we didn’t get in line without him *hint hint*) and the line was only 10 minutes long. The CMs at ToT were so awesome and did their roles incredibly well! Rhiannon was afraid and I was spending so much time reassuring her that I didn’t have time to feel scared myself. We finally did the ride and it was so great! I screamed my fool head off and was so scared! I have seriously never been that energized on a ride before – it really helped wipe away my bad mood. Dennis kept making fun of me for how loud I screamed. Rhiannon had her face buried in my shoulder the whole time and she hated it. But I’ll tell you, she’s such a little trooper – willing to try anything once.

After that, we had time to hang out and use the restrooms until our RnR FP return. Rhiannon was totally not into this, but she gave it a go. I was scared of this ride myself because I’m not all that fond of corkscrew roller coasters, but oh well. The ride was so intense. It started out fast, which surprised me, and immediately went into a loop and you just never knew when the next loop or corkscrew was coming! Dennis and I had an absolute blast on this ride, but amazingly enough, Rhiannon enjoyed it too.

After that, we did WWTBAM. Dennis came really close to the top spot at one point and I got in the top ten both times. This is where our competitive nature comes out. We both love trivia type games, so I was quite pleased with myself in the second round being in the top ten when he wasn’t. Hee. Rhiannon actually liked this game even though she was utterly clueless. The host of the game told us that the last winner was an 8 year old girl and that many times the winners are kids because they have faster fingers. That’s hilarious.

Next we did lunch at the ABC Commissary and it started pouring down rain. The food was lousy, but it was good to be out of the rain and the CMs were so nice. The maintenance men were going around giving kids garbage bags to use as ponchos and helping them poke holes in them. Dennis and I both got fish & chips which had been sitting under the lights just a bit too long, so they were soggy. After lunch, we did Star Tours with FP, then MuppetVision 3-D. Not surprisingly, Rhiannon hated Star Tours. I don’t know what it is about those simulator rides, but she doesn’t like any of them. MuppetVision was funny.

Next we did Backlot Tours, which was kind of fun, especially seeing the costume department and being behind Lights! Motors! Action! and then finally we did Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream (mainly to get a chance to sit down). There were a few things we didn’t have time to do (Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones, and LMA), and we’re not entirely sure we want to go back for them. The people at the park were so pushy and rude and the experience just wasn’t as “magical.”

We then went back to the room to rest and nap until our 7 p.m. PS for Ohana’s. The Poly was pretty, and I expected to like it more than I did, but I guess I’m just an AKL girl. It was entirely too noisy, although the theming was incredible. While we were waiting for our PS, Dennis got me a lei for my neck and one for Rhiannon’s head. He’s so sweet about stuff like that! Ohana’s was nice with the meat skewers. I got two Ohana Coladas (mmmm, best pina coladas I’ve had in ages) and Dennis got a Tradewind to drink. Rhiannon did the coconut races and the hula hoop dancing and had a blast. My MGM bad mood was kind of holding over to tonight and I just wasn’t all that enthusiastic, although I didn’t have a bad time. I just need a little attitude adjustment.

Oh, and our mousekeeper, MarieAngelie has given us towel animals two days in a row. The first day she gave us little bunnies and today we got bunnies and an ostrich. She’s a sweetheart. All the mousekeepers here are so great. We can stop any of them in the hall and just talk to them and they’re more than happy to stop to chat. One night, Dennis had gone exploring the lodge and he met up with a maintenance CM, who took him on his own personal tour! He let him see the concierge floor (uh oh, guess where he wants to stay next time!) and showed him the best place to watch Illuminations from, plus showed him a short cut to the pool.

Another early day tomorrow. Wahhh... I just want to sleep in! But it'll be worth it because it's MK for EMH morning.

Stay tuned for Part 6!

 

[meeko_33785]

Great report. I enjoyed reading it.

 

[Minniespal]

Really enjoyed reading your report ~ Thanx for posting.