off to neverland
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2004
- Messages
- 703
Cast:Me, 34, mom and wife
Dix, 43, Great husband and dad
Boo, 5.25 year-old son who likes Way Dangerous Things
Sis, 2.25 year-old pony princess daughter
Important trip items:
-The exact same rental car we had 3 months ago during WDW trip
We had every intention of putting the kids to bed when we arrived back in our room, but we realized that though it was evening in Florida, it was only late afternoon back home. The kids biological clocks werent going to allow them to sleep, even if they had had a long day on the airplane and were tired.
It appeared that the skies were clearing and the rain would wait for now. We decided to take a quick trip over to the Magic Kingdom since it was posting Extended Evening Hours this night and would be open until midnight, at least.
The plan was to kill time and wear the kids out by walking them down Main Street, exploring the shops. We wouldnt take the stroller and would instead let them walk on their own. We had never really taken the time to browse through the Main Street shops and this would give us the perfect opportunity to take our time there. It would be a short trip, and we would head back to the hotel early so the kids could get a decent nights rest.
We boarded the boat and sat up front in the open area where we enjoyed the breeze and sunshine. I have to mention here that I love everything about the boat ride from Wilderness Lodge to the Magic Kingdom! Even the walk from the lodge to the dock through the trees and swamp is beautiful and though I know hundreds of people walk it every day, it still seems absolutely peaceful and serene.
As always, the boat ride was relaxing and beautiful. As we passed through the small channel by the Contemporary Resort, the air was heavy with one of the loveliest fragrances Ive ever smelled. I noticed a hedge growing on the bank with small white flowers, and wondered what they were. Others seemed to thinking the same, because voices that had droned throughout the trip suddenly turned inquisitive and happy. From all sides of me, I heard people asking, What is that smell? Oh my, thats nice. What is that?
Someone told me later that it was jasmine.
This same experience would repeat itself over and over throughout our trip. Every time we would pass that hedge, people would notice the smell and then seem more cheerful, upbeat, and energetic.
Maybe aromatherapy really does work.
The calm of the boat ride quickly ended the minute the kids saw the entrance to the Magic Kingdom. Boo instantly started talking about going on the Buzz Yightyear ride. Dix and I exchanged glances. Buzz Yightyear was not part of the plan! We started to refresh Boos memory on the "browse through the Main Street shops" plan, but Sis had heard the word ride and was yelling, Mickey Mouse Ride! Mickey Mouse Ride! To Sis, all attractions at Walt Disney World are called Mickey Mouse Rides.
It suddenly dawned on me at that Sis had not really realized we were at Disney World until now. She didnt remember the Wilderness Lodge from a year ago, and probably only associated the Magic Kingdom with Old Key West because that was all she remembered.
How could Dix and I tell these kids they were right here in Mickey Mouse Ride territory, but they couldnt go on the rides?
Just walk down Main Street and browse the shops? What had we been thinking?
We suddenly realized the silliness of our plan to enter the Magic Kingdom without a stroller. Sis would not be able to walk to the Mickey Mouse rides without a stroller and Dix and I would end up carrying her for a most of the way.
Dix and I shook our heads at our lack of judgement.
We stopped at the stroller rental and considered renting an $8 stroller. If we were staying the whole day, it wouldnt bother us to spend the money, but for just an hour or so? We decided not.
We would just pony up and lug our girl around.
The kids were hurried and excited now, and we quickly walked down Main Street. I looked longingly at the shops as we passed, and knew I wouldnt be browsing those any time soon!
It was just about time for the fireworks to start and we were headed straight for Buzz Lightyear. Dix and I knew that the fireworks would mean no line for that attraction.
We were right; we walked right onto Buzz. When we finished, Boo wanted to ride a second time. Though I love my son and try my very best to embrace his interests with zeal and affection, I have to admit that my enthusiasm for Buzz has waned. I have ridden it more times than I can count.
Dix and I decided that I would take Sis on Pooh while the boys enjoyed Buzz to its fullest. I wanted to catch Pooh while the fireworks were still in progress because I knew the crowds would be light, so I picked Sis up in my arms and held her tightly as I walked as quickly as possible from Tommorrowland to Fantasyland.
Sis weighs 32 pounds.
That was a long walk.
We walked right onto Pooh and rode behind a man and son who, unbeknownst to me, would end up riding with us the next three go-arounds. The man told me his son, age four, had already ridden four times and there was no sign of him stopping. I laughed at this, and told him about my five-year-old riding Buzz over and over with no signs of losing interest.
During our previous trip, Sis had enjoyed the Pooh ride, but something was different for her this time. Something clicked and she got it somehow. She didnt just enjoy it; it delighted her! She shrieked and laughed and yelled at each character, and took special enjoyment in the parts where Tigger played Peek-a-boo with her. I watched her excited, lit-up face smile at each new character and felt her little body tense and jump with delight each time Tigger appeared.
She was absolutely enthralled, and found myself utterly caught up in her excitement.
To be able to share that moment with her, that moment in which she was having her first actual thrill ride experience and to see her reaction to it that moment right there was priceless!
The little boy in front was also shrieking and laughing, and he and his father kept turning around to laugh with us.
It struck me as odd that my daughter and I would share this super special moment with a stranger and his son, who were having their own very special moment. Im sure that like me, that man will forever carry the memory of sharing that special time with his child and two happy strangers.
Yet, we never even learned each others names.
The four of us embraced the moment, and laughed, shrieked and screamed together ..not once, but four times around. Sis and I finally had to get off because I knew Dix and Boo would be waiting for us outside the ride. Sis was disappointed to stop, but I distracted her with promises that I would buy her a Pooh lollipop when we exited.
We said goodbye to our special moments friends and as expected, Dix and Boo were waiting for us outside the ride. I handed Sis over to Dix while I bought a package of four Pooh suckers for the kids. We found a table and sat down to eat them and have a drink.
Dix was very quiet, and I watched him as he walked over to a counterservice spot near Pooh to buy himself a water. When he came back to the table, I asked him what was wrong and he told me he was just tired. Had he had a fun time with Boo? Yes, but he was tired, and Booh had been very difficult during the walk over to Fantasyland. I asked him if he wanted to go back to the hotel. He was tired, but no, hed rather stay at Magic Kingdom.
What was with his attitude this day? First the grumpiness over the rental car, and now he could hardly put a smile on his face.
It bothered me.
Dix is a very hard worker, and it has paid off for him in that he is very successful in his career Dix is also extremely dedicated to the kids, and goes into superdad mode when hes home from work. His dedication to his family and career often leaves him with virtually no down time to himself. I know that the lack of personal time leaves him no room to brood over things, or to simply go into his man cave.
I get that. I understand that.
Everyone needs his or her own quiet cave time.
But NOT at Disney World!
I had very little patience for his down mood in my most magical place, but I kept quiet about it, and suggested we hit Big Thunder with Boo before we left the park.
Boo was excited at the thought of going on Big Thunder again, but Dix was hesitant about taking him on it at night. He reminded me of Boos terror of the dark hills on Splash Mountain during our previous trip, and I suddenly realized Big Thunder might not be the best idea for this night.
Boo couldnt accept that. He told us that he was sure he could handle it. He had been on it before!
Please oh please oh please oh please .. Let me go on Big Thunder!!
Dix and I relented, and we all walked over to Frontier Land together.
Dix carried Sis for this leg of the walk and Boo and I left them to play in the kids play area at the exit of Splash Mountain while we ran over to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The standby entrance sign said a ten-minute wait, but it seemed to me that the line looked much longer than that. Oh well, wed have to just wait. There was no way I was going to be able to talk Boo out of that ride now.
While we stood in line, Boo and I reviewed the Disney family rules that Dix and I had discussed with him on the plane ride to Orlando.
Rule #1: Never stand in line more than ten minutes if we dont have to.
Rule #2: Be as polite to other people as we can be.
Rule #3: Have a great time.
Boo asked me what rule number #4 was, and I fibbed and told him I had forgotten. I really hadnt, but I didnt want to mention it to him as I figured it would bring attention to Dixs mood. Rule #4 was that during the trip, each person would be allotted a two hour grumpy episode without penalty. Dix and I had been joking about my grumpy episode the last trip when we made this rule.
It didnt seem so funny to me anymore, and I made a mental note to remind Dix that he was quickly using up his grumpy allotment per rule #4.
You are quickly approaching penalty time, Dix.
Boo decided that since I had forgotten rule #4, he needed to fill it in with something and offered the following; Rule #4: Always bring the stroller.
Good one, Boo! My arms would certainly appreciate that rule!
By the time Boo and I reached the front of the queue, we had been waiting well over ten minutes. Boo had started to second-guess his bravery during our wait and now wondered if the ride would be too scary in the darkness. He debated bailing out and I was honest with him and told him I had never ridden Big Thunder at night and so I wasnt really sure how dark it would be, but that my instinct told me it wouldnt be too dark for him.
He decided to trust my instincts and we loaded the car.
The ride took off, and Boo left all his fear and worry behind on the platform. He absolutely loved the ride, and even let go of my hand, which he had always held tightly whenever we had ridden before. I loved the ride at nighttime and was happy we had decided to do it.
After Boo and I exited the ride, we hustled back over to the kids playground, where Dix was taking a video of Sis playing. Boo ran to Dix and asked him to ride Big Thunder with him. Dix was hesitant, and expressed concern about Sis having to wait at the playground longer than she already had, but when I looked at her she seemed very happy to be playing there.
What was up with Dix? Where was his enthusiasm?
With some urging, he decided to go with Boo, and I sat and watched Sis play for what seemed like a very short time before the boys returned. The line to Big Thunder hadnt been long at all, and they had ridden very quickly.
Dix returned to us with a smile; the ride had jazzed his mood, and he seemed rejuvenated and happy. That ride is the best at night, he told me. It was great to see him smiling and having fun, and I was happy to see that he had shared a special moment with Boo.
And he's safe, folks! Dix has just missed the penalty box by the hair of his chinny-chin-chin! There will be no penalty box for Dix!
And the crowd goes wild...
We discussed what to do next. Boo and I really wanted to stay in the park and enjoy the night, but Sis was getting tired, and Dix and I were well aware that we didnt have the stroller. We wondered how long we could keep packing Sis and decided it was time to go back to the hotel to bed.
Dix and I broke the news to Boo. He wasnt happy. He was having a blast, there were no crowds, and he didnt feel sleepy at all. I told him I felt the same way as him, but that it just wasnt practical for us to stay anymore. He was disappointed, but he agreed to go without complaining.
I picked up Sis and carried her through Frontier Land. As we passed Bear Jamboree, Dix and I noted that we hadnt seen that since we were kids, and we promised to try to squeeze it in this trip. I had the faintest recollection that it hadnt really impressed me as a kid, but I still wanted to see it anyway.
When we reached Main Street, we stopped so that I could pass Sis to Dix. Boo pulled on my arm so I would lean down and he could quietly tell me a secret.
Mommy, actually, I AM tired. I said I wasnt tired because I didnt know I was tired, but now I know Im tired because I dont want to walk anymore. My legs are Way Tired, Mommy. Can you carry me?
My little Diehard Disney Lover son was tuckered out. He had walked all over that park that night, and hadnt uttered one complaint so far. I couldnt carry him; my arms needed a rest from carrying Sis, so I grabbed his hand instead.
So, with Sis in Dixs arms and Boo and I hand-in-hand, we moseyed right down the center of the Mainstreet together. The stores were brightly lit, and I gazed at the stores with the knowledge that it was okay that I hadnt visited them this night. Dix briefly put his free hand on the small of my back. I looked at his face, and saw him smiling at me.
He did look tired.
I stepped closer to him so that our arms were touching as we walked past the twinkling lights of Main Street.
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Next Installment: Part 3...The Scream...
Part 1...Irritated Dix, Way Dangerous Things, and the Pony Princess...
Part 2...The Good, the Bad, and the Magical...
Part 3...The Scream...
I love your details and sense of humor! You give me the disney fix I need.
What a great report. I am really enjoying reading thus far. You kids are precious. I especially loved the Pooh ride story. 
Can't wait to get some of that magic myself in 58 days! 
