*~*~OFFFFFFFFFFF with their heads!!!!!! Oct. 19-27th 2009 TR~*~*

[Twoboysnmygirl]

We checked in at Crystal Palace and were seated almost immediately. The table was decorated in honor of Savannah's bday! She saw it and asked if she could take her bday button OFF. She had already been trying to cover it up with her jacket (brr, still cold this morning!) so I just told her no worries and we took it off and put it away. If she didn't want all the bday attention, she didn't have to have it! I felt more bad b/c she was uncomfortable. It was her birthday in Magic Kingdom and I wanted it to be how SHE wanted it, not how it's "supposed" to be.

They did bring her a cupcake and a special signed card from the characters. She liked these as soon as she was reassured that no one was going to sing to her! I realized about this time that my lens cover was showing up in the corners of my shots! Argh! I'm just glad I caught it, I would have been horrified if the whole day I had black corners in all my shots. I just took it off and went without it (it was a rented lens & lens cover for the trip)

Pooh and Eeyore came around almost immediately after we had gone to get our food. Yummy buffet, I think I had eggs, fresh berries, and a bisquit. Lots of coffee & juice too, they brought me out some rice milk to put in my coffee, they didn't have soy.

I couldn't believe the smiles that I got out of Rey when those characters came up to him! Too cute!

Piglet was a big hit, he even kissed Mary! Priceless shot! It's one of my favorites!

Dela kept getting up and chasing the characters down and trying to grab them. She just didn't understand at first, but eventually she figured it out and was all about shaking their hands! It was cute. I was just worried that the characters wouldn't notice that she is Developmentally delayed b/c she looks more "normal" and I thought they might get upset with her, but it was all good.

They had a parade through the restaurant and then it took a while for Tigger to come around, but we waited. I was watching the clock, I admit it. I wanted to be at the castle rope drop BUT I knew it wasn't a big deal (self-talk does wonders!)

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

So, we almost made it, walked out in time, but Ray Sr. had to go to the bathroom. Ok, I swear I'm not trying to be a witch here, I know everyone has to go potty and you gotta go when you gotta go. BUT, do you have any idea how many times you have to stop when there are 8 people and they all have to go at different times? Sometimes I felt like we were touring WDW bathrooms!

So, he comes out, but I can see from this vantage that rope drop has happened and there are already people doing the dumbo-dash! I didn't want to run or anything but I'll admit it was hard to watch the people pouring in through that castle and towards the ride I was headed for!

Here are a couple shots that I took while waiting, whenever I had to wait, I found myself taking more pictures to keep myself from looking annoyed or making them feel rushed! I tried!

Whenever you see a duck in my pictures, you will know I was waiting! I have quite a few duck pics!

We head towards the castle and Savannah & I are walking fast. We really want to get to Dumbo before there is a hour long line and are very excited, but I hear some griping and think my Mary or Rey told me to slow down.

Now here is where the whole "we have to be together every single second" thing started to annoy me. Savannah & I were the only ones who were interested in going on Dumbo, this had been established and they were just going to wait for us. So WHY can't we go ahead and get in line while they take their time and walk?

I've talked to Rey about it since and he just thinks it's rude to go ahead during a family trip where you are all supposed to be together. See, my logic says that if some people are going on a ride and some are NOT, then you will be separating anyway, so why not walk ahead, get in line...and then you will shorten the amount of time you are separate?!! Ok, I tried, but whatever!

Heading through the castle:

We got to Dumbo and the line was longer than last year, but it was fine. I think it took about 15 minutes. I got to take some pics while in line:

I warned Savannah that she may not get her favorite (PURPLE Dumbo) if someone else gets it. She assures me it's ok but walked straight to the purple one and got it anyway. She was uberexcited to be on one of her favorites and get the purple one!

and took some shots in the air, but they were just meh...

Dylan video taped us when we were on the ride, but it's pretty bad quality. The video camera was just a little something I picked up for the guys to mess with while on the trip.

 

[Missus Toad]

Beautiful pics-- so colorful, and wow is that sky ever blue!

Traveling with a large group is challenging, isn't it?

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Beautiful pics-- so colorful, and wow is that sky ever blue!

Traveling with a large group is challenging, isn't it?

Thank you! This was my first trip with my DSLR (I say first trip b/c I fully intend on taking another trip! LOL) and I just got it early last summer, so I'm a work in progress when it comes to my photography!

It WAS a challenge with our group, but I prepared myself before and read many trip reports about going in groups. I think there were just times it was difficult b/c I felt like we were just standing there or waiting and I cannot stand waiting! When I think about it though, with the exception of Epcot (I'll get to that on our 3rd day) we saw more than I thought we might with this large of a group.

 

[praisehisname]

I love your report so far! This picture is so cute!

 

[cdhale]

What kind of lens did you rent? January will be my first trip with my DSLR and I don't think the kit lens is going to cut it.

Love your early morning pictures... the light is great.

Cheryl

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I love your report so far! This picture is so cute!

Thanks!!

What kind of lens did you rent? January will be my first trip with my DSLR and I don't think the kit lens is going to cut it.

I have a Nikon D40 and the 2 lenses I have are a 18-55mm and a 55-200mm. the 18-55 is a kit lens and I don't like it. The 55-200mm has it's limitations if you are close to your subject (which I KNEW I would be on the trip) so I rented a Nikkor 18-200mm walkaround lens. This way I didn't have to switch lenses or mess with it on the trip.

I wish I had purchased the 35mm for low light though, it's on my wish list for Xmas!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

After Dumbo, we SLOWLY did a few other rides in Fantasyland. To be honest, I wanted to do some more, but even wrote in my notes that it was so much more enjoyable to just take our time and go slower and more LEISURELY.

We could do this b/c I planned for the least busiest days and did my research, AND we were there at rope drop. Ahem...something I would repeat throughout the week, but we never did make a rope drop again.

There were things I didn't notice from our previous trip, so there WAS something nice about it. I didn't do nearly the things on my list, but it was fun. No Philharmagic, no carousel, no Snow White...

All the rides were 5 minutes or so, so after another potty break (no clue who it was this time?) we headed to PeterPan.

We all went except Ray Sr. :shrug He didn't go on anything, I don't think? No, I take that back, at Epcot he rode 2 things. Rides aren't his thing, I didn't mind, but Mary was annoyed with him, I think. He only went with us 3 days though, the rest of the trip he stayed at the house. He's got some issues (forgot the medical term) from Vietnam and WDW or any place with crowds just isn't his thing. I knew this ahead of time and it didn't bother me, but Mary was annoyed a few times with him.

After Peter Pan they stood around messing with Mary's camera. I DID learn some patience on this trip!

Next we headed to Pooh, which was a hit for Dela, she LOVES Winnie the Pooh, it's one of the reasons I had scheduled the breakfast with the Pooh characters that morning.

This is an awful pic (just kept kicking myself for not getting that 35mm lens!) but it's one of those pics you wish had come out. Mary looks so cute, she threw her arms up and said, "Wheeee"!

In the Pooh shop Savannah found ROO! She loves Roo and we've found that he's very obscure, you usually can't find him. So, it was her first purchase. She had money that Mary gave her as well as money she had saved, AND she got a bday card from WDW for the amount of one child ticket. She spent most of it on her friends.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ok, I just have to take a moment to say that I was not commando/nazi on this trip like it sounds. I really did enjoy going a LITTLE bit slower and taking everything in, but their level of leisure was just too slow. We love the rides and there were many times we just didn't get to do a lot of them b/c it just took too long to get from one to another.

Since Ray Sr. didn't go on rides, we spent at least 10 minutes searching for him after EVERY.RIDE. Then someone had to go potty, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I even wrote in my journal that I enjoyed a slower pace, but a girls gotta have her balance and sometimes it was just SO slow. The problem with being so rigid about everyone being together at all times is that it's impossible for 8 people to all want the same things and to all get to do what they want in the period of a day. I tried VERY hard to make sure everyone was happy, but I had to wonder when I was getting to do what I wanted. I'm guessing though that if you talked to each person separately from this trip, they would all think that we all got a little of what we wanted. They probably didn't even want to arrive at 9:30 or 10am, so I'm guessing they thought I was getting MY way when we did that! Not quite!

There were quite a few times that Savannah would whisper to me "When are going to go on rides?" and I would have to tell her that we were compromising and doing what everyone wanted...and that we would come back, another excuse for another trip!

So don't think I was running ahead or standing with my whip forcing them onward, most of these feelings were just things that went through my head, not things I actually acted on. (although Rey could read it on my face sometimes!)

AND, we even had time for some pixie dust!...

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

We headed over to teacups, one of my favorites! Not b/c I love to spin (I HATE it...no LOATH it!) but b/c I always get smiling pics on this ride! Everyone always smiles!

Dylan and I decided to get in a cup and NOT spin it (that's my boy) while Rey, Dallas, & Savannah went nuts with the spinning! And they did! I thought Rey was going to get sick at one point, but Dallas & Savannah were having a ball!

 

[praisehisname]

I'm glad you shared your feelings here. It was kind of a "light bulb" moment for me. My very first EVER trip to Disney was a trip that my MIL paid for so that her entire family could go. At that time she and my FIL had 5 kids with spouses and 9 grandchildren (7 of whom came on the trip). She was already a Disney addict and she was introducing Disney to us. Looking back now, and reading your thoughts, she must have been chomping at the bit to do more, but she took it nice and slow so that we wouldn't feel overwhelmed. What a sacrifice that must have been for her!

 

[momoftriplets]

I am LOVING your report. Your photos are beautiful.

I can't believe the set backs you all had just trying to leave for your trip.

I made reservations at MK very early in the morning on our last trip for the same reason you did. I loved seeing Main Street so empty. There was nothing else like it the entire trip.

I have to commend you for going on a trip with your In Laws. I know I wouldn't survive if I went with mine. Well, maybe I would survive, but Others might not!

Keep up the good work.

 

[kbheap]

I'm subscribing. Your report is starting off great.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Thanks Everyone!

I really didn't think it would be too difficult to go with my IL's, but I get along with them GREAT, I wouldn't have gone if they were typical IL's. The trip WAS amazing and magical, really the biggest issue for me was the waiting and I suspect that even when I go back with my DH I will have some "waiting" and "slow" issues.

After Teacups, we leisurely walked over to Toontown. I just enjoyed looking around as I knew it would be the last time to enjoy it probably with the changes they are making to Fantasyland in the next few years.

Rey got some more pins (I've created a monster!)

Then we all went on Barnstormer! I thought it would be a good starting point for Dylan as he was saying he wasn't sure about some of the more "thriller" rides (although I'm not sure I think ANY of the rides at WDW are considered thrillers)

Dylan did NOT like it and proclaimed no more rides like that for him. He did not like any of the drops or what he calls g-force. Whatever floats your boat dude! We are in WDW, there are tons of things to do!

He wasn't too upset, this was minutes later when they were trying to avoid being squirted with water from the boat:

We hopped the train to ride around to the other side of the park so we could ride Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Railroad. It was a nice ride, we got to see the crowds coming in and I reminded them how much we had seen and done with no lines up until this point b/c we had arrived early. I think it fell on deaf ears.

On the train:

sillyface!

 

[Rozz]

Fantastic trip report! I just love the picture of your husband and Piglet. Wonderful!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Thanks Rozz! Me too! I swear the best smiles I got from him were when the characters came up behind him. Totally genuine, just how I like it.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

So, we got around the park and walked off the train to see this:

5 minute wait for Splash at 11:00! Wow! I was stunned and Rey, Savannah, Dallas, & I walked right on Splash Mountain right after getting Fastpasses for Big Thunder. We had a great time, Savannah was pleased, this is her favorite and Dallas liked it. Rey and Dallas got all wet (after I told them you don't really get wet!) and cursed me when I didn't.

When we came off, we had about 10 minutes to kill before our FPs were up for Thunder Mountain. They made fun of me b/c we sat around waiting b/c the sign said 20 minutes, but it was walkon as well, even without the Fastpasses! Oh well! My planning was paying off! The crowds were thick (in my comparison to Sept. 2008) in the park, but I have no idea what the people were doing b/c they were not on the rides!

After we got off BTMR, around 11:30, Ray Sr. was ready to go and not feeling well. Mary offered to go back to the house with him, so Rey, me, Dylan, Dallas, Savannah, and Dela stayed at the park!

We headed over to Pirates of the Caribbean and all went on it. Dylan got mad at me b/c I forgot there was one small drop in it and I felt bad for not remembering!

We headed across the park and past the castle to Cosmic Rays for lunch.

We ate outside on the patio, the weather was perfect! I had a veggie wrap, meh, I had it last time. It's fine, but dry...but the only veggie option for me! It was so nice to just sit there and soak it all up. The last time I had sat at Cosmic Rays, I was exhausted and hot, this time I just watched the people go past and thought about how we had so many more fun things ahead of us!

As we were finishing up, we saw the evil stepmother & sisters across from the restaurant, so Dela, Savannah, & I went to see them! Savannah stuck out here tongue and their reaction was priceless! One of the sisters turned her back and wouldn't take a picture with Savannah and they chided me for not teaching her manners!

THEN, to make it even funnier, Dela who had been watching (as probably had no clue why Savannah was sticking her tongue out at them!) had her turn and walked up shaking their hands and smiling! They all gave Savannah dirty looks and said that THAT was the way to act like a lady (they kept going on even as we walked away, it was hilarious)

Grabbed a couple pics on the bridge when we saw the Move It, Shake It parade coming down mainstreet and right in front of the castle!

The guys had finished eating and off to the parade we went!

 

[Marlton Mom]

I am loving your trip report! Thanks for doing an awesome job with it. I especially can relate to all the restroom breaks with any kind of a group over 2 people in number.

I always say my favorite ride in Disney World is the ladies room 'cause it's air conditioned and you get to sit down!!!

Keep it coming!

Smoochies,
Marlton Mom

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Thanks for reading Marlton Mom!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

The parade was fun, I had a good time taking pictures and Savannah liked it. The boys stayed back a little, it was a bit too much for them! I wish Savannah would have gotten out and danced, but that's not her style. Mr. Freeze (that's his name, right???) came and tried to coax her out and she wouldn't have ANY of it!

Kinda took too many pics (these barely scratch the surface!)

This was hilarious. He saw me taking a picture and kept bending over more and more while looking at me!