"Mom, Dad, 3 Kids & a Gingerbread Boy" Matty's Wish Trip December 10-18, 2009

[pnutallergymom]

You are getting me soooo excited for our trip!!! I think Brigitte is going to LOVE the parades too!! I think I'll make the Jammin Jungle one a MUST Do for us as well!!!

 

[ladybugmom]

2 GREAT updates!! I LOVE the Nemo show as well!! I Was a little worried since it was the longest show we saw--I wasn't sure if Claire (19 mo. at the time) would sit through it. But she was mesmerized by it all!! She sat perfectly still on my lap for the entire show!! The parade looks like sooo much fun! That's a parade we have yet to see--hoping to see it in May!!!

 

[maroo]

I totally agree about Nemo from the front!

My favorite seats are in the middle.

I am glad the CM let you stop and watch the parade.


Now...what could THAT be???? hmm.....

 

[pacrosby]

Yay for Nemo! I am a big fan of Dory and Bruce also. Cant wait for this show. I know I have heard there is a better place to sit but cant think of it soif anyone can let me know I need to make note of it.

I'm with maroo below. In the middle. Personally I'd go for the one of the first few rows of the upper section, smack dab in the middle if I had my druthers.

You are getting me soooo excited for our trip!!! I think Brigitte is going to LOVE the parades too!! I think I'll make the Jammin Jungle one a MUST Do for us as well!!!

I'm glad you enjoyed them. Some of the creatures they creatured were really something to see.

2 GREAT updates!! I LOVE the Nemo show as well!! I Was a little worried since it was the longest show we saw--I wasn't sure if Claire (19 mo. at the time) would sit through it. But she was mesmerized by it all!! She sat perfectly still on my lap for the entire show!! The parade looks like sooo much fun! That's a parade we have yet to see--hoping to see it in May!!!

With the music and the all the action on stage I'm not surprised Nemo kept her attention.

I totally agree about Nemo from the front!

My favorite seats are in the middle.

I am glad the CM let you stop and watch the parade.


Now...what could THAT be???? hmm.....

Honestly, I think the CM just realized she wasn't going to win this war LOL If we were blocking a walkway or in other people's way we never would have stayed there. It just seemed to be one of those inane rules...."don't let anyone stand 'here'".

Have you figured it out yet???? Shouldn't be too hard



Pamela (btw I'm stickin' with this Santa 'cuz Matty's trip was a Xmas trip - just in case anyone was thinking "doesn't this chic know it's January???")

 

[kdzbear]

ooops, is that how that came across??? Maybe I need to reword it. We really enjoyed it, I was (when I used the term 'annoying') just referring to how a lot of adults appear to feel about it (at least a lot of the adults that I know). Lots of noise and colorful crazy decor is right up MY alley

Pamela

I am glad you liked Rainforest Cafe. We used the same coupon on our trip. If you are a member of My Points, you can redeem points for Rainforest Gift Certificates too!

I love your photos of the Finding Nemo show. You may be able to see better from further back, but you would not get the fantastically detailed and colorful photos that you did!

The parade photos are also great. We experienced at the MVMCP that cast members do not like confrontation and unless a supervisor is present, they will not make people move. Unfortunately for us, it was non-handicapped people in the handicapped viewing area of the parade!

I am loving your report and all of the details. You are doing a great job! Keep the Santa! Now if you could just convince the site administrators to add a gingerbread man!

 

[pacrosby]

Firtst We'll Watch This and Then We'll Ride............THAT!"

Part III: THAT!





Parade over and done and it's........OMG it's 4:30?!!! I suppose I shouldn't be surprised though, the parade started at 3:45 and we did catch it at the very end of the route. Still, the day has gone by oh so quickly. The plan is to drive on over to the Magic Kingdom and enjoy the rest of the day there (as luck would have it MK is open 'til 12 am tonight). But there is still one more "thing" we must do. Olivia has been talking about "it" for days. Apparently her little classrmate had had the pleasure of riding "it" just the other week and gave "it" the . And when one 9 yr old girl tells another 9 yr old girl that something is 'super cool'...................well, then we simply must do it! I, of course, am up for any adventure, especially one that might provide a rush, but I am alittle concerned about my back due to some old disc injuries. After seeing what lays ahead Nick thinks it is worth investigating. Matty? He's intrigued but, nope, too short. Brennan? Alas, also too short. Dh? Uhhhhhhhhhhh, not so sure but...................sorry buddy, Momma can't go until a trusted family member rides it and gives it the A - OK. Translation? He's goin'!!!!!!!!!

Yes folks, it's time for the YETI!!!! Now this is MY kind of ride. But, reluctantly, I must stay behind with little Brennan and Matty while dh, equally reluctant, follows his little daredevils. They have no intention of riding alone and, well, I need him to do a test run before I can safely hop aboard. It's obvious he's not feeling very confident but, as always, aims to please. Brennan, Matty and I find our way to the viewing area and anxiously wait and watch, half expecting to catch a glimpse of dh tossing his cookies on the way down. We never do actually identify them but, about 10 minutes later, see them walking our way. Nicholas is all smiles, jumping up and down with excitement, ready to ride again. HE loved it! (that's MY boy!!!! ) Liv however looks alittle white, eyes wide, simultaneously shaking her hands and her head; seemingly in disbelief. Dh???? Well, let's just say he won't be riding Expedition Everest again anytime soon!!!! Too fast. Too steep. Too much!!!! Regardless, I can not be swayed. I just need to know if I can safely ride this puppy. Dh tells me he thinks I'll be just fine as he experienced no serious jarring or bumping throughout the ride. Thrilled I invite my Nicky Noodle to join me and off we go! (now we think we are in the following pictures but can't really tell so just go with it ok???):

Over already!!! Oh my goodness that ride is fantastic!!!!!! and much too short! Although we'd love to go again (and again, and again) we must disembark and go off to find the clan. I'm just itchin' to tell dh what a little girl he is May be time to head over to something more his speed. The Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland perhaps?


On the way out of the park we pass Character Landing and quickly pull in for a quick hello plus an autograph or two (or three):




First up alittle Pooh action:

Followed by Eeyore and his wayward ears:

And a taste of Tigger too!

After giving our final hugs, we bid our farewells and move on out. It's on to the Magic Kingdom - woohoo!!!! But wait! Before we cross to the parking lot dh decides we need just one more photo:

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!



Next Up: "It's a MAGIC kingdom"


Pamela

 

[maroo]

Oh...you tell your DH that it is a good thing I didn't know that he didn't like EE before I met him!

That is my FAVORITE roller coaster anywhere! I love that it doesn't DROP like those huge ones...and that it is fast...and smooth...and dark...and backwards. LOVE IT!

Woo Hoo!

Can't wait to go again!!! And again! And again!

 

[ladybugmom]

YAY!! I cannot WAIT to get to ride EE when we go back in May!! I love the pics with Pooh and friends all dressed up in their Christmas outfits--too cute!

 

[yinyanggirls]

HA! I can't believe your hubby doesn't like coasters! Exactly how much of this is backwards???

 

[buzz for boys]

EE is definatly an acquired taste !! My 8 yr old son loved it and went 4 times in a row each time getting off more excited !! My 6 yr old though bless him came off death white and a little green !!
A few days after returning home when he got out of the car he said he felt a bit ill because I was driving just like the yeti ride so not a mega fast ride but defo one that makes you a bit motion sick

 

[pacrosby]

Oh...you tell your DH that it is a good thing I didn't know that he didn't like EE before I met him!

That is my FAVORITE roller coaster anywhere! I love that it doesn't DROP like those huge ones...and that it is fast...and smooth...and dark...and backwards. LOVE IT!

Woo Hoo!

Can't wait to go again!!! And again! And again!

I think it was the backwards thing that got him!! I've actually just been having a little fun throwing him under the bus. He's not as bad as I'm making him sound. And it's not fair of me to compare him to myself - I'm a nut!!!! I'd probably bungee jump if my back would allow it!!!

YAY!! I cannot WAIT to get to ride EE when we go back in May!! I love the pics with Pooh and friends all dressed up in their Christmas outfits--too cute!

I LOVED EE too!! Was so glad to find when dh told me he thought it would be ok for me to ride.

HA! I can't believe your hubby doesn't like coasters! Exactly how much of this is backwards???

Only a small section (dh is standing here and says it's about twenty percent) For whatever reason that's what he didn't like about it. I, on the other hand, think up, down, back, front, sideways, circles..............................it's all terrific in my book!

EE is definatly an acquired taste !! My 8 yr old son loved it and went 4 times in a row each time getting off more excited !! My 6 yr old though bless him came off death white and a little green !!
A few days after returning home when he got out of the car he said he felt a bit ill because I was driving just like the yeti ride so not a mega fast ride but defo one that makes you a bit motion sick

Your six year olds' reaction sounds similar to the reaction of my nine year old. And she was so pumped about it before going on. I felt badly because it was hard getting her to go back on other thrill rides after that(and she'd always been pretty up for anything before EE).

 

[pacrosby]

Departure time from Animal Kingdom? 5:30. Will we make it to the Magic Kingdom in time for the lighting of the castle? I'm hopeful that we will. We arrive at the TTC, hop aboard the monorail, and cross our fingers. As the monorail moves along it's track we can see the Castle in the distance. Nope, no lights yet. In a few minutes we arrive and make a mad dash to the turnstiles. As luck would have it our progress quickly comes to a halt by the line for the 'baggage check'. Can you say 'long'? Can you say 'slow'? UGH Murphy's Law. (the other Murphy, not ours of course). Finally though we make it into the park, fly through the stroller rental station (not goin' anywhere without THAT) and emerge to find:

No lights!!! And with only minutes to spare because before we make it even half of the way down Main Street this happens:

Now I had had the pleasure of seeing the Disney holiday special on HGTV in the weeks before we left and watching the lighting of the Castle on television was something to see. But in person? Honestly, not to be melodramatic, but it took my breath away. And obviously I wasn't alone as all around me I could hear the ooooohs and aaaaaaaahs of others. Beautiful. Magic.

As we make our way down Main Street we are so taken by all the Christmas decorations. Everywhere we look. And the window displays!!!! (sadly I have no px). Now we Crosby's go cuckoo over Christmas. At my house every room, every available surface gets a taste of Christmas cheer. So the Magic Kingdom at Christmas was like heaven.

First stop for the Crosby's? Fantasyland! First stop in Fantasyland? FOOD! The Pinocchio Village Haus is our destination. I just love the decor here with the rustic Bavarian feel and the artwork depicting the many characters/scenes from Pinocchio. The food is simple but good (doesn't take much to satisfy us) and in less than 30 minutes we are off! Where to? Well, the obvious choice......................It's a Small World. Now I know that this ride seems to fall into one of two categories for people. They either "love it" or they "hate it". But personally, even at my age, I happen to love it. The imagination; the creativity. As we travel along in our boat I find myself thinking about how much fun it must have been to be intimately involved in the creation of this attraction. I just had to have some pictures:

All too soon our boat reenters the queue and slows to a stop. We haven't even gotten out yet and the kids begin to beg to go "again, again, again!" And why not? So we do. Although this second ride ends with more chanting for yet a third we convince them that there is so much more to see and do. Why look? There's Peter Pan Flight! Ooooooh, they are intrigued. We cross the street, break off into our groups and pick a pirate ship for our journey to Never Land:

Right next door we find Snow White's Scary Adventures. Gotta love those dwarfs!! The witch? Well, not so much.

(oops met my limit................be back soon after more uploading!)

 

[Momofwishkid]

Ohh! Love the castle all lit up. Do they do that every night?? I think I am going to be a lover of It's A small world dont know about the rest of the fam though. Im thinking maybe not. How was the Snow White ride, was it scary at all?

 

[pacrosby]

"It's a MAGICAL kingdom" cont'd





Around the corner here's the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh!!!

Dumbo the Flying Elephant doesn't have any takers this evening but since I think he's so cute I need a picture:

We check our watch. Wow........five rides in just over a half hour!! We are cookin'. The kids lay their eyes on Pooh's Playful Spot, a small play area across the way. Although the sign indicates it is reserved for smaller children there is no one there so we agree. Some time to run free and release alittle energy does seem well-deserved. Before long an all out game of tag breaks out and my children are hopping honey pots, ducking into trees and ditching through hollow logs. Dh and I are itchin' to move along but the kids appear to be having the time of their lives. Huh? A 9 yr old, an 8 yr old, a 7 yr old and a 4 yr old. In Pooh's Playful Spot? I make a note to self.

In time we are joined by other families with much smaller children. Alas, the games must come to an end. A perfect time to introduce the children to the many possibilities that lay ahead in Tomorrowland. Sounds promising to them. We're off!



First stop, Space Mountain.............. however my little Livilu, unfortunately is having none of it. My little daredevil! What happened? Expedition Everest that's what happened Nicholas is more than ready to roll. Matty, too, is pumped for the ride of his life but I suspect he's not quite tall enough. Over to the 'magic measuring stick' we go and...................nope, no go. Just a wee quarter of an inch too short!!!!! Oh well, just like my Matty he takes it like a trooper and returns to wait with the rest of the family. Nick and I? Well we excitedly proceed to the entrance where we are promptly informed that.........oh no........the ride is temporarily 'down'. Huh? Whattya mean????? "Come back later" the CM advises. Ok, we have no other choice. We reluctantly move on. The next 45 minutes is filled with fun and laughter while experiencing Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Stitch's Great Escape, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, and AstroOrbiter. It is so nice to be able to enjoy each and every ride and show together as a family. But wait, time check. I know it's getting late and there's a parade on tap that is not to be missed. What about Space Mountain? Is it worth a mad dash to see if it's back up to speed? Nick and I agree that it is and take off running. To our delight we find that all is well and we get a ride. A ride that does not disappoint. I have ridden Space Mountain back in the early 90's and knew what to expect. For Nick of course, it was a first. And by the sounds of his hootin' and hollerin' in the back seat, I'd say he'll be back for more!







well....listen guys I gotta go to bed!! But there's more so I'll be back. Thanx for reading

Pamela

 

[jenb1023]

Glad you got to enjoy EE! My DD, age 6, was just tall enough on our most recent trip and loved it! She made me ride it three times the little daredevil! Love the characters in their holiday gear!

So glad you made it to the castle lighting! You are right - it is so amazing in person that photos and video really don't do it justice. Jen - they only light it like that for the holidays. You got a lot done in the MK! In all of our trips, we have not eaten at Pinocchio's - we will have to try it. SM was not open so I haven't ridden the new version yet and DD has never ridden it - we can't wait!

Looking forward to the next update!

 

[pipersmom]

I'm glad you made it in time for the castle lighting! I think the day we go is the day of Teen Idol at the village, so we're planning on making it a rope drop to closing affair, with at least one break at the wish lounge planned! I love IASW, as does Gram, and Piper is very excited about it as well! (She loves learning about different cultures!)

Too funny that the kids were all about the Pooh playground! We'll have to make a quick stop there if it catches Piper's eye. I can't wait to ride Space Mountain, and as of now Piper is in the same mindset, but we'll see. I haven't gone into that on my report yet but I will soon. Looking forward to the next update!

 

[cantwaittoseemickey]

Ok getting caught up again

ET I love that movie! Cry everytime! My parents bought it for me lol. I cannot wait to ride that ride. I remember when dh and myself rode it just like it was yesterday

The castle is B E A U T I F U L!! Ok I am seriously not sure about EE. I really want to ride it. But WOW Im not a huge roller coaster rider since my younger days lol .I know Ty will want to ride it but not sure about Sierra. But it does look like alot of fun. So not that much jerking around? ooh I might I dont know lol.

The parade looks like alot of fun. I hope we catch it. I loved Donald on top of the jeep!That was too cute.

 

[kdzbear]

I guess I fell behind again. I loved the kids with the Pooh characters. They all are so happy. I think it is fantastic that you made it to the castle lighting. We watched it from the Ferry boat. The night that we tried to make it the monorail line at the Ticket and Transportation Center was down the ramp and around the corner so we took the Ferry. You got to do a lot of rides in a short period of time. I am happy that Space Mountain was up and running for you! Great updates as always!

 

[pacrosby]

"It's a MAGICAL kingdom" - cont'd


ok....so we're pullin' up to 11 pm now and there is NO time to waste as we have "the" parade to catch. Now the last time we were here at Disney was back in 2005 but I can honestly remember this parade like it was just yesterday. I remember the sights; I remember the sounds. I can even 'hear' the music. Granted some of my little chickens are visibly starting to fade (gee I wonder why, they've only been goin' since 8 this morning LOL) but I am hopeful that this parade will revive them. We book it across the bridge, bobbing and weaving through the crowd, and manage to find a good viewing spot over in front of the Castle. Within minutes I can hear the music and then................................................it appears WOOHOO!!! (please forgive the quality of the pictures):

Spectromagic

 

[ladybugmom]

YAY!! I'm so glad you made it to MK just in time for the castle lighting!!! This is something I cannot WAIT to see in December!! The lights are amazing!!! I can't believe how many rides you got done in such little time!! Can't wait to read more!