Monkeys on rollerskates or just chaos here

[DisneyDivaMom]

Well, I thought I would at least make an attempt to begin this report. This is our second trip to WDW. I never did a first TR although I have been lurking on DIS since 2000.

Here it is then.

Dates: 11/29/06 to 12/07/06

Cast:
Me, 46 yo mom
Princess Diva: 8 yo dd (certainly earned the title on this trip)

Wednesday, November 29th.

This day is called "Always pack your suitcase more than one day in advance." I overpacked and underpacked, meaning too much of some things and not enough of others if I remembered to bring them at all, like the cable that connects my camera to my laptop. TIP, use trial size toiletries. I put all my full size shampoos and conditioners in a ziplock. It did OK but Diva's Johnson's baby shampoo leaked out all over the inside of the bag. Half a bottle lost. TG, the gift shop had some as Diva can't use anything but this.

We get to the airport about 1:00 for our 3:08 flight on Airtran out of MSP. We go to the ticket counter to check our 3 suitcases. Weight on each is OK, good, I was worried about that. Then Diva and I head to security with our 4 carryons. She is wearing a backpack stuffed with 2 days worth of clothes for both of us plus all our non liquid toiletries. I have her wear a fannypack with her Mix Max as well. Because fannypacks are like clothing and we can keep them on us. I have the other three carryons with the laptop, and I guess more clothes like her costumes for the character meals and all the shoes we needed. Yeah, that's it, I carried shoes on the plane.

Security was OK, lines not too long. We had to remove our jackets, shoes and fanny packs. The laptop had to be taken out of the bag but not turned on. I retrieve the bags and have the Diva get our shoes, jackets and fannypacks. We then take 5 minutes to put ourselves back together. I mentally check to see if we have it all. We do and we walk over to our gate. We want lunch so we go back to a kind of sportsbar like place. We eat an appetizer plate between us and washed it down with soda. After we eat, we look at the gift shops, get shopping started early I suppose. Back to the gate where Diva settles in with a movie clip on her Mix Max. Not bad, we have about 45 minutes before our flight. I hear singing, Diva is singing along with the Cheetah Girls. I look around to see if we are disturbing anyone. It doesn't seem so and I just let her be. She isn't loud and she isn't screaming like the child a couple of gates over.

Boarding the flight went well enough. I find our seats and put Diva and 2 of the bags in them while I put the other 2 in the overhead compartment. The laptop and Diva's backpack go under the seats in front of use. I get the earplugs and gum ready for take off. Our ears were fine during takeoff. In the next row is a little girl, Diva's age and they get aqquainted, Diva sits in the empty seat next to her and they both color. They traded coloring books and then signed the pages they colored and traded back at the end of the trip. Is that typical for 8 yo girls to do?

I meant to finish my first day but I need to go to work. You know, the place that I trade labor at so I can pay for Disney. I will try to finish day one tonight. I hope so as I still have Christmas things to do yet, like wrap presents from Santa. Isn't it enough that I shop for him, I gotta wrap these too?

Continuing on from this morning. We arrive at MCO at 7:16 pm. I wait until most of the other passengers disembark so I can get our bags without feeling rushed. I have 3 heavy ones to haul while Diva just has a backpack to haul. We head toward baggage claim where I look for our driver. Oh, there he is holding a sign with our last name on it. We head over to him. He escorts us to baggage claim were we wait about 20 minutes for our luggage. I tied all manner of ribbons on ours. They do look festive as they come toward us on the conveyor belt. However I see them fast and point them out to our driver. Having gotton all the luggage we go outside so the driver can bring the car curbside. We then head to the store where I purchase lots of water and soda. Diva may drink as much root beer as she likes on vacation. Otherwise why even bother to go on a WDW trip.

Now we are back in the car heading toward CSR. Sam, our driver gives forth with all sorts of Disney facts. Oh, good, I settle in for a nice conversation while Diva takes in all the sights. She is an emerging reader so on the way she read every single sign she could. That is very entertaining depending on your perspective. Now we are at CSR, I settle up with Sam and thank him. Bell services gets our bags and supplies. We go inside to check in. This place is huge, I want POFQ, sorry Buzz. The resort is nice though, it is Disney after all. Check in was fast, we get a map. Wate of time, I get lost anyway. I knew I would, I get lost easy. After 10 minutes we finally locate our room, 1332, Buzz quit laughing, this is your resort, not mine. I thought that maybe bell services would have our luggage already, well no they didn't. OK Diva, let's go eat at Pepper Market. So Diva and I go look for Pepper Market. Another 10 minutes to figure out how to get there. I need to go check the index card for that day to see what we had there. I didn't write it down so I will guess that Diva had the Kid's pizza meal. She wanted a soda and they gave her milk. I ordered a root beer and traded with her. I think I had the nachos, way too much food here. I ate about a third. Dessert, Diva wanted plain vanilla ice cream. I ask if it is on the DDP and they said yes. I got a cheese danish for Diva to eat tomorrow for breakfast along with the milk I didn't drink. At the cash register, I got a lecture about the ice cream. No problem I said, I told them I would pay OOP. Still got an attitude from cashier so I asked for a manager who was as like minded as the cashier. People, I said I would pay for Diva's ice cream what are your issues here? I do not like Pepper Market. Buzz, I tried really I did. Not everyone wears the same shoe size.

Walking back to the room, another 10 minutes to get there. Our luggage isn't here yet. Back to bell services to inquire about it. Seems they want us there when they deliver luggage and since we werent, they elected to bring it back to bell services. OK then, another 10 minute stroll back to our room. Diva is begining to whine, she is tired, it is way past 10 pm and her routine bed time is 8:00 so she was worn here. Our luggage arrives about 30 minutes later. I have Diva tucked in bed already so I have the bellman leave the bags outside so I can bring them in quietly. I tip him and realise that's why my bags weren't delivered while we were out of the room. I spend the next hour settling in and hanging up our clothes. I brought 2 dozen hangers and a shoe bag to put misc items in. I look at Diva, fast asleep with Cuddles, her stuffed polar bear. Hey, I should sleep too because we have an agenda here. I finish up and decide what matching color shirts to wear tomorrow. I need intervention here or serious therapy. I tuck myself in bed so I can sleep. We have to be up at 6:00, we have an agenda to follow.

 

[Bashful in TN]

Liking it so far.

 

[DisneyDivaMom]

We woke up about 7:00 today. Diva was complaining about not feeling well. I decided to let her watch her daily fix of Power Rangers. She looks OK and starts doing kicks along with Pink Ranger. I am writing notes in my journal for my TR. Look how organised I am! Diva eats the danish from last night. The milk was warm out of the fridge. The fridge isn't cooling. I check the little knob inside and turn it down. Milk is poured down the sink. Diva and I get ready for a morning at MK. We leave the room around 10:45. The MK bus comes right as we get to the bus stop at El Centro. Nice timing Mickey!

At MK, we head straight to Liberty Tree Tavern where we have an 11:35 ADR. We are there before 11:30 so we go shopping until they open. I bought 4 Minnies dressed in pink ballet gear. One is for Diva, one for her best friend and the remaining two are for my husband's granddaughters. I also picked up 2 stuffed Mickeys for my grandson and my BF's grandson. Our older daughters made us grandmothers last year. We are done shopping in time for our ADR.

We check in and are called 15 minutes later. Our waiter collects us and then says "excuse me." He returns a moment later and takes us to an alcove window seat on the left side of the restaurant. Oh, how lovely! We have never gotten a window seat before. We feel so special here. Lunch was even better and I am not a big LTT fan. We had fried cheese, Turkey dinner and Diva got pizza on the kid plan. We shared the strawberry shortcake. The people at the next table got big eyed and turned their heads towards us as our waiter brought it over. So I tilted it slightly so they could see it. They ordered one too then. Oh, that was so good. Our waiter was Blake and he was very attentive. He saw me writing on my daily index card where I have our ADRs and a rough agenda. I explained that since I couldn't bring my planning notebook with me that I need something to keep me on track because we have an agenda here. Oh, the look on his face was something! A cross between "lady, get a life or how organised of you." He managed to compose himself and said that a basic plan was good thing to have at WDW. I begin talking about the DIS. He said he goes to the boards about once a week. I buy one of the glass mugs for DH Grumpy back home and we settle up with Blake.

It is almost 1:00 so we head back to the resort so we can rest for dinner tonight at the Poly. We booked the Luau at Diva's request. Back at the resort, Diva settles in to watch the DVC channel. She tells me that we should buy into this. She works for them now! I iron her muumuu that I made her for the last trip . It is almost too short but she wanted to dress for the Luau. The fridge still isn't working, our sodas and water aren't chilled.Ugh and we wanted a cool drink too. I call the front desk about it and am transfered to maintainance. I report the problem with the fridge.

We get to the Poly at 4:30. We shop a bit. Where is the Polynesian Princess shop? Seems that they remodeled while we were gone. There wasn't much clothing choices here. I remember Aloha shirts and really nice dress muumuus. I bought some magic towels for Diva and some pins for myself.

We check in for dinner and wait forever. I booked at 180 days out at 6:00 my time and prepaid this meal. We get a table with a pole blocking our view. Not pleased here. I booked with enough time to ensure a good seat. I paid nearly 80.00 for this. I suppose just being a party of 2 warrents this but still. Food was Ok, I liked the ribs better than the tasteless chicken. Everything else was just OK. Diva just ate the broccelli and asked the stunned waitress for more. She glances at me to check, I suppose. I nod and soon Diva has a plate of steamed broccelli. Dessert was the chocolate mousse we had 2 years ago. Diva won't eat chocolate so I ate hers. I asked if she wanted me to get her an ice cream at MK later. No, she was fine. I really don't want to come back again.

The show itself was all right, what we could see of it. However, just over the trees were the MK fireworks which Diva watched instead. She kept yelling out "Oh, Mom, Look at that!" I reminded her to use her her indoor vioice and bring her manners out. We were seated between a retired couple and a young family with 3 girls less than 5. The older couple were charmed by Diva's enthusiasm watching the fireworks and the the family on the other side weren't disburbed by Diva as their offspring were very vocal as well. So here I am at the Luau watching Diva eat brocelli and watching the the fireworks. I think we are done with this anymore. The older lady leans over and tells me that she never saw a child like to eat brocceli like Diva. I shrug and tell her that I have always allowed to Diva to self direct her food choices due to earlier sensory issues with her taste buds. Diva wanted to leave when the fireworks were over but I wanted to stay so I bribed her with a blue light up cube that I had to buy for almost 5.00. It was 4.00 with an 18% gratuity added plus tax. Yep, 4.98, I just checked my receipt.

Diva looked wiped out when we left the luau so I changed my plans to go see the 9:00 Wishes fireworks at MK. We went back to CSR and got lost again going to our room. When we got there, we had towel animals. Our housekeeper was very creative and Diva had me take pictures of all of it. We settled in and Diva watched the DVC channel again while I took some time to journal, plan out our next day's attire and get out my index card for 12/01/06. The fridge still doesn't chill our drinks so I call maintainance again and ask them to replace it. They said tomorrow. Ok, I still can't drink the beverages we stopped for at the grocery for though.

 

[OhMari]

I was a little confused when you stated you bought 4 of the same item, glad you explained it. Did you ask for a different table at the Poly?

 

[DisneyDivaMom]

I was a little confused when you stated you bought 4 of the same item, glad you explained it. Did you ask for a different table at the Poly?

No, it took forever to be seated and we were among the last in line. The time before the waitstaff was rude and I didn't want to chance any problems with our food of anything. Diva was the one who wanted this. I don't think we will do this show again.

 

[DisneyDivaMom]

We get up about 6:45. Diva is cranky and declines breakfast. We get on the bus to AK about 7:15. We are there in time for the awakening but not in time to get a good view. I had an agenda but Diva is very cranky and is sluglike. We shop a bit as Diva only wants to shop. I want to see the Lion King show. I find a camera strap that I don't buy, want later and can't find it. Always, always buy it when you see it. Diva buys another friend a pair of cheetah patterned mouse ears. We go to see the Lion King. Awesome production. Diva loved it. I bought the CD. Lunch is at Pizzafari. Not bad. Diva was able to get pizza on the kid plan. So we had 2 pizzas, 2 sodas and chocolate cake for me and strawberry lemonade for Diva. Cost = 23.69. I tried to follow the agenda and go on the safari but Diva was crankier and refused. She wanted to go back to the resort so we did.

We got back to CSR about 1:00. We were supposed to meet up with a friend who lives in Florida but she was sick and couldn't make it. Originally we had ADRs for Boma at 7:30 to accomodate A as soon she could meet us there after work. I called and got a new ADR for 5:30 and cancelled the 7:30. So at 3;45, we left to go on to AKL. I hadn't been there before. Oh, the theming was impressive! Diva picked out some pins for herself at the gift shop. I wanted some of those hand craved giraffes but reminded myself that I collect castles not animals. They were lovely though. After that we walked around outside. Amazing, Grumpy would love this place.

5:00, time to head over to Boma. This place is great but I guess it was too adventurous for us. I doubt we will come back. That's cool...........not every shoe fits everybody. We finished about 6:00 and went back to the resort. Diva was getting even more whiny. On the way back to the room, I stopped and got a Pina Colada to go from Francisco's. Back at the room, more towel art. I read about folks not getting these but we got something new everyday. Our maid was just really creative. I got Diva to bathe and get settled in bed watching the DVC channel while I sipped my drink and journeled. Our fridge was still not cold so I call again and we have a new one in 15 minutes. I look at my planning notebook. I am not following my agenda very well here. There is so much we haven't done here. Tomorrow we go to MGM. Will we follow my agenda that I spent months plotting out or do we throw it out the window? Stay tuned, I will try to post each day now that the holidays are over with.

 

[DisneyDivaMom]

The agenda called for us to be at MGM at 8:00 a.m. Instead, Diva wakes up cranky again. So we get to bus stop at 8:00 and arrive at MGM at 8:30 or so. While waiting on the bus, we chat with a lovely family from Hershey, PA. They had 2 girls roughly Diva's age. The girls pin traded nicely while waiting on the bus. We also visited while riding to MGM. Once there the girls decided to take a couple of pictures together. Us moms whip out our digital cameras and we write down each other's children's names. So here is a great big hello to J and S. I don't know if they are dissers or not.

We say goodbye to our new friends and walk on over to starring rolls. We used 4 snack credits to get 2 danish and 2 orange juices. 9.44 on the meal plan.

We then went to see The Beauty And The Beast show. First time and we loved it! Then we went to see The Little Mermaid show. Our 2nd time to see it but one of our favorites. We walked around a bit then decided to eat lunch at The Studio Catering Co. We had to get creative. Diva wanted a plain hotdog. It isn't on the kid plan so I decide I will switch plates after we sit down. I ask for a plain hot dog instead of the chili dog on the adult menu. Not possible, it must come with the chili. I ask if the chili can be on the side. No, it must be on the hot dog. I politely request that it not be added as I don't like chili (I do but this was for Diva who doesn't eat chili) No can do. Sigh, I order the chicken wrap for Diva. And a milk and a root beer. I end up with the milk as I couldn't get Diva a soda on the meal plan. 18.19 as 2 CS on the meal plan. I think ahead to the future when the next time we come, Diva will be 10 and on the adult plan.
Diva picks at the chicken and applesaue. She is eying my cheesecake so I coax her to the chicken and applesauce by throwing in the cheesecake. We hurry through lunch as there are birds trying to get at our food. PEOPLE, DO NOT FEED THESE BIRDS!!!!!

Diva is even more grumpy as we head off to the MGM parade. On the way, we spot our friends from Hershey, PA and we all wave madly. At the parade, we are next to a mom with a teenage girl and a preteen boy. Diva gets grumpy when the boy sits down next to her. She stands up because apparently that day all boys were yucky. The other mom catches on and switches her children so Diva will sit down. I shake my head and apologise. Mom is is grinning and tells me not to worry about it. A few minutes later some more members of the party arrive. Among them is Doug, who assuming I was with them, shakes my hand and asks how I have been doing. The Mom and I are LOL here. Doug looks confused as we explain it to him. "But I though she was with you guys." Then he just starts talking away to both of us. Hey, I was there right. He was just one of those people who are comfortable no matter where they happen to be. The parade was fantastic. Diva loved the Power Rangers. Two of them, Red and Blue leaned over to shake her hand. This was our first time to see this parade. I was trying to see all the parades this trip. We missed the AK one though. After the parade, we went shopping a bit. We had to get back to the resort to get ready for our dinner at GF Cafe.

Dinner more than made up for lunch. Diva was calmer and acted like she was having fun. I started with onion soup. This was very good. Diva sampled it and approved of it as well. She ordered a plain cheese pizza on the kid's meal and declined all the sides. No root beer, so she ordered a sprite. I had the NY strip. I think it had some of the best green beans I had ever eaten as well. Yummy! 51.62 on the meal plan TS. As a surprise for Diva, I had preordered the Slipper dessert. Oh, the look on her face when that arrived. I was ready with my camera though and I caught that oh, my look. She ate the slipper and offered me the chocolate mousse. Diva does not eat chocolate in any form but m&m's.

After dinner, I wanted to look around the lobby but Diva got cranky again so we went back to CSR. we got to our room at 7:30 and I got Diva settled in for the night. She wanted the DVC channel again. As she drifted off to sleep, I journaled a bit, planned out our next day. I ironed her costume for CRT the next day. She wanted to be Cinderella in her regular day dress. I had a lady who sells on Ebay make this for her.

Tomorrow is MK, and CRT. Will the day go according to plan or will we learn why Diva is cranky? Stay tuned. I will try to to post tomorrow but I keep getting caught up in my life. I have to get our taxes done.

 

[nolacindy]

I'm a little confused at why they wouldn't give you the hot dog without chili... wonder if they come frozen with the chili on them, doesnt sound very good but I cant think of any other reason they wouldn't let you get it plain.