Can't believe the luck we had!!!!
My children and myself are certifiable Disney fanatics. Mike is a closet Disney fan! He acts as though it isn't a bigi deal, but you can see through his calm and cool demeanor by just looking into his eyes and you see the Disney Magic joy in them!
Well, on with our magical story! We are native NYer's. We've been living on the Jersey Shore for the past 4 years and always need to go into the city to get in tune with our native selves. And since Mike started working next door to the World of Disney store, we HAVE TO go pay it a visit. We had been planning that we would go take care of some best friend wedding business and pay a visit to my grandma for a few weeks. And since I am soooo crazed with planning for our upcoming trip, we also wanted to go get a DISNEY fix at the World of Disney store. We decided we would go on Monday after our visit to grandma (she lives 20 minute walk from there...remember we are native NYer's we are used to walking! LOL)
We pack up in the car Sunday morning and head to our first stop...going to order Leilani's flower girl dress. Once we arrive at 42nd St I decide, let me call the bride (my best friend) before getting on the Queens Tunnel. LUCKY THING I DID! It seems that after she called during the week to make sure the boutique would be open, it appears that they are not. SCRRREEEEECCHHH, we get out of the route to the tunnel and start heading uptown. I chat with my friend for a little while, hang up and Mike turns to me and asks "What do you want to do?" By now we are a stones through from WofD. "Let's pick up some lunch and go to the store. THis is great since now you can go too" I said. Meanwhile, Leilani is bouncing up and down in her seat with excitement and she gets Christopher into it too. So we park the car a few blocks away (anyone who knows the city knows you can NOT find parking near 5th Ave!)
We stop for lunch at McDonalds, Leilani and Christopher's cuisine of choice and then walk over to the most magical store in NYC. We walk around the store, take pics with the props and head up to the meet and greet area. We wanted to go take a pic with Goofy. But unfortunately we missed the last meet and greet.
The next one wasnt for another 2 hours! We figured we'd play it by ear. But after walking around another 35 minutes the kids were restless. We decided to go to my MIL's house, where we would be spending the night.
Next morning, Mike went to work, and myself and the children ate breakfast, showered and dressed and headed back into the city to visit Great Grandma. We had a great visit with her. After our visit I told them lets go pick up some Pizza for lunch (no one makes pizza as tasty as in NY) and go to the Toys R Us store and then maybe we can make it to the Disney store for Meet and Greet. You've never seen my two eat thier lunch as quickly as when they know they are going to have some fun! We crossed the street after lunch and went through the Toys R Us Store. They had a blast on the ferris wheel (WOW do they really charge $4 per person for a 10 minute ride!?!?!) and walking around the store. But suddenly I look at Leilani's face and we speak to each other without ever having to open our mouths. TIME FOR THE MAGIC!!!!"
We quickly make our way to the exit and head uptown from 44th and Broadway to 55th and 5th Ave. I say it is all this NY walking that trained Leilani since she was little to walk all Disney without the need of a stroller. LAst time we were there she was 3 and people were in awe when they saw she didnt have a stroller. NOPE, she's a trooper!
So we finally arrive, take the escalators up to the third floor Meet and Greet Area. And we are pleasantly surprised to see we were 2nd in line. As we are waiting the 15 minutes to pass, I notice the sign by the doors. MAGICAL MEET and GREET it says. AUGUST 1st & AUGUST 30th ONLY ALL THE WAY FROM WDW.....MEET & GREET MICKEY MOUSE!!
Oh My GOD!!!!! We didn't notice this sign yesterday!?!?!? What luck! Here we are expecting to see Goofy and Pluto as always....but we are meeting MICKEY MOUSE!!! I tell Leilani and she gives me her magical smile and starts jumping up and down "MOM! We are seeing Mickey here before we go to Disney!!!" She tells Christopher and he gets all excited too. (this would quickly change! LOL)
The line forms quickly behind us. The minutes pass by like hours. We can not contain our excitement! Finally...the clock says 3:15pm. The doors to the friendship room open and who is there? PLUTO!!! Leilani quickly runsover to him and Christopher is close behind.....until he is mere inches from him. He turns on his heels and crashes into me "NO I DONT WANT PLUTO!!!!" The cast members are laughing and I pick him up to get him closer thinking, now he is in Mommy's arms, right? NOPE!!!
He is NOT in the mood for PLUTO. We take our pics with one with a crying Christopher and another with Leilani all smiles and walk over to our favorite character of all....MICKEY MOUSE!!!! Christopher acts brave and says "I go to Mickey" Leilani hold him my the hand as she walks toward Mickey....and again Christopher gets his hand out of her grasp and runs over to me "No Mommy NOOOOO MICKEY MOUSE!!!" Mickey was covering his eyes and trying anything to get Christopher to go over to him willingly. No can do! So again we take our group shot with Christopher looking away from the camera. And we take pics of Leilani with Mickey solo. She was haming it up with Mickey that the CM took a few extra shots of her (I know in the hopes of us purchasing one of them. Right now in our Disney budget, our 35MM photos would have to do, LOL) Leilani hugged Mickey and told him "I will see you at your house in November" Mickey nodded at her and shook her hand and waved at her.
It was truly a Magical Surprise to see MICKEY 4 months prior to our magical vacation!
My children and myself are certifiable Disney fanatics. Mike is a closet Disney fan! He acts as though it isn't a bigi deal, but you can see through his calm and cool demeanor by just looking into his eyes and you see the Disney Magic joy in them!
Well, on with our magical story! We are native NYer's. We've been living on the Jersey Shore for the past 4 years and always need to go into the city to get in tune with our native selves. And since Mike started working next door to the World of Disney store, we HAVE TO go pay it a visit. We had been planning that we would go take care of some best friend wedding business and pay a visit to my grandma for a few weeks. And since I am soooo crazed with planning for our upcoming trip, we also wanted to go get a DISNEY fix at the World of Disney store. We decided we would go on Monday after our visit to grandma (she lives 20 minute walk from there...remember we are native NYer's we are used to walking! LOL)
We pack up in the car Sunday morning and head to our first stop...going to order Leilani's flower girl dress. Once we arrive at 42nd St I decide, let me call the bride (my best friend) before getting on the Queens Tunnel. LUCKY THING I DID! It seems that after she called during the week to make sure the boutique would be open, it appears that they are not. SCRRREEEEECCHHH, we get out of the route to the tunnel and start heading uptown. I chat with my friend for a little while, hang up and Mike turns to me and asks "What do you want to do?" By now we are a stones through from WofD. "Let's pick up some lunch and go to the store. THis is great since now you can go too" I said. Meanwhile, Leilani is bouncing up and down in her seat with excitement and she gets Christopher into it too. So we park the car a few blocks away (anyone who knows the city knows you can NOT find parking near 5th Ave!)
We stop for lunch at McDonalds, Leilani and Christopher's cuisine of choice and then walk over to the most magical store in NYC. We walk around the store, take pics with the props and head up to the meet and greet area. We wanted to go take a pic with Goofy. But unfortunately we missed the last meet and greet.
The next one wasnt for another 2 hours! We figured we'd play it by ear. But after walking around another 35 minutes the kids were restless. We decided to go to my MIL's house, where we would be spending the night.Next morning, Mike went to work, and myself and the children ate breakfast, showered and dressed and headed back into the city to visit Great Grandma. We had a great visit with her. After our visit I told them lets go pick up some Pizza for lunch (no one makes pizza as tasty as in NY) and go to the Toys R Us store and then maybe we can make it to the Disney store for Meet and Greet. You've never seen my two eat thier lunch as quickly as when they know they are going to have some fun! We crossed the street after lunch and went through the Toys R Us Store. They had a blast on the ferris wheel (WOW do they really charge $4 per person for a 10 minute ride!?!?!) and walking around the store. But suddenly I look at Leilani's face and we speak to each other without ever having to open our mouths. TIME FOR THE MAGIC!!!!"
We quickly make our way to the exit and head uptown from 44th and Broadway to 55th and 5th Ave. I say it is all this NY walking that trained Leilani since she was little to walk all Disney without the need of a stroller. LAst time we were there she was 3 and people were in awe when they saw she didnt have a stroller. NOPE, she's a trooper!So we finally arrive, take the escalators up to the third floor Meet and Greet Area. And we are pleasantly surprised to see we were 2nd in line. As we are waiting the 15 minutes to pass, I notice the sign by the doors. MAGICAL MEET and GREET it says. AUGUST 1st & AUGUST 30th ONLY ALL THE WAY FROM WDW.....MEET & GREET MICKEY MOUSE!!
Oh My GOD!!!!! We didn't notice this sign yesterday!?!?!? What luck! Here we are expecting to see Goofy and Pluto as always....but we are meeting MICKEY MOUSE!!! I tell Leilani and she gives me her magical smile and starts jumping up and down "MOM! We are seeing Mickey here before we go to Disney!!!" She tells Christopher and he gets all excited too. (this would quickly change! LOL)The line forms quickly behind us. The minutes pass by like hours. We can not contain our excitement! Finally...the clock says 3:15pm. The doors to the friendship room open and who is there? PLUTO!!! Leilani quickly runsover to him and Christopher is close behind.....until he is mere inches from him. He turns on his heels and crashes into me "NO I DONT WANT PLUTO!!!!" The cast members are laughing and I pick him up to get him closer thinking, now he is in Mommy's arms, right? NOPE!!!
He is NOT in the mood for PLUTO. We take our pics with one with a crying Christopher and another with Leilani all smiles and walk over to our favorite character of all....MICKEY MOUSE!!!! Christopher acts brave and says "I go to Mickey" Leilani hold him my the hand as she walks toward Mickey....and again Christopher gets his hand out of her grasp and runs over to me "No Mommy NOOOOO MICKEY MOUSE!!!" Mickey was covering his eyes and trying anything to get Christopher to go over to him willingly. No can do! So again we take our group shot with Christopher looking away from the camera. And we take pics of Leilani with Mickey solo. She was haming it up with Mickey that the CM took a few extra shots of her (I know in the hopes of us purchasing one of them. Right now in our Disney budget, our 35MM photos would have to do, LOL) Leilani hugged Mickey and told him "I will see you at your house in November" Mickey nodded at her and shook her hand and waved at her.It was truly a Magical Surprise to see MICKEY 4 months prior to our magical vacation!
