off to neverland
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2004
- Messages
- 703
Cast:
Me, Rae, 34, Disney lover
Dix, 43, Great guy who who makes Love Coffee
Boo, 4.95 year-old picky eater wearing a Brat Hat
Sis, 1.95 year-old who can holler louder than a blowhorn
Goldi Locks, Nice DVC member who traded her points with us
Laser-accuser guy: Nice man helping out with world safety
Mr. Customs Man: Grumpy, serious guy in uniform with no patience for drugs or childbirth
Mr. And Mrs. No Manners: Rude people who pop up with different faces throughout our trip
Cute little girl in the front: Loud mouth who unintentionally traumatizes kids young kids on rides
Cousin: Make-up-less advisor whose areas of expertise include hats and droopy b**b prevention
My Dad: Fearless landrover driver who makes great spaghetti
My Mom: Woman who loves blue and might show up unannounced
Love-Boat-bellhop-guy: CM who likes to rescue damsels in distress
Shoe Girl: Girl who wears the most inappropriate Walt Disney World shoes EVER!
Inventory of important trip items:
Three new premium annual passes
Fancy Laser Camera
Unofficial Guide to Disneyworld
Missing Disney Dining Experience cards
Brat Hat
Old Key West Key Card
Love Coffee
Sis fell asleep in the car on the way back to Old Key West, so we carried her into the room and put her in her crib. We told Boo he would have to play quietly, and he appeared to relish the quiet time to disappear into his own imagination.
The message light on the telephone was flashing. I ran to pick it up, and hoped it was the front desk informing me that either my Disney Dining Experience fax had arrived or my mother was sitting in the hospitality house waiting for our return.
Our Disney Dining Experience fax had arrived!
No offense, Mom, but thats almost as good as you being here.
Dix lay on the sofa, closed his eyes, and was snoring within minutes.
I was too jazzed from our great morning at Magic Kingdom to sleep. I stayed in bed for a while, and like Boo, truly enjoyed the time to retreat into my own thoughts. When I rose, I was happily surprised to see Dix studying the Unofficial Guide! What a good man! I kissed his cheek.
I heated the leftover chicken tenders and rice in the microwave, scrambled a few eggs, and boiled a couple of hot dogs. We would nibble on this hodgepodge high-protein buffet for lunch.
After Sis woke and ate, we didnt waste much time loading into the car. We stopped quickly at the hospitality house to pick up the DDE fax, and were at the MGM parking lot in no time at all. We had to take the tram from the MGM parking lot to the entrance, and again I noted that it would have probably been faster to take the bus because it would drop us off directly at the entrance.
Boo seemed a bit tired during the walk into MGM, but he perked up when the very first thing he saw was Mary Poppins waving at him from a car driving down Hollywood Boulevard. We had arrived right in time for the parade, and there was a nice spot on the curb in which to sit. It was as if it had been reserved just for us.
We couldnt have planned it any better.
The kids were excited to see Mary Poppins, and then suddenly Boo spotted Buzz Lightyear and crew approaching. He almost jumped out of his skin. He frantically waved to Buzz and yelled, Hi Buzz! Hi Buzz!
One of the Toy Soldiers stepped out of line and came to our side of the street to slap hands with kids on the curb. As he came closer and closer to us, Boos excitement penetrated his feet and he jiggled them on the pavement while trying to sit still on the curb.
The Toy Soldier was in front of Boo holding his hand out for a hand slap. I put my fancy laser camera up to my face, and focused it on the soldier and his hand.
The slap never came. I heard Dix say, Give him a high-five, son. No high-five came. I put the camera down to see what the trouble was, and then realized Boo was desperately trying to see around the Toy Soldiers body. Buzz was coming, and the Soldier was in the way!
Boo finally gave his hand a soft push out of his way. There was Buzz!!!!
Hi Buzz! Hi Buzz! He waved his hand as quickly as he could.
Sis was following his lead, and trying her hardest to wave, watch her brother, and yell hi buzz all at the same time. She ended up waving her arm all over the place as if she were directing traffic while muttering a long, loud, Uzzzzzzzz.
Though Buzz was the highlight for us, the kids truly enjoyed the rest of the parade. They knew each and every character that appeared. They both quietly studied the evil Jafar, and Sis took special delight in seeing Snow White.
It was a great parade.
We had a 4:10 priority seating at Hollywood and Vine shortly after the parade ended. Even with our priority seating reservation, we waited a long time on the porch to be seated for dinner. People who checked in after us were seated well before us. At one point, everyone else was seated and we sat alone on the porch, waiting. I asked the hostess several times what was taking so long, and each time she would go into the restaurant, and come back out and not say anything to me. When I asked her what she had found out, she appeared to have forgotten all about me and would go back in the restaurant and come out again without an answer.
This was our second disappointing experience with being seated at a WDW restaurant. We were just about ready to ask for a manager when they called our name to sit down.
We enjoyed our dinner at Hollywood and Vine. I guess its safe to say that though not memorable, the food was good because, for the life of me, I cannot remember what I ate but I do remember that I was very happy with the large selection of choices. The ice cream buffet was a hit with the kids, and they truly enjoyed piling on their M&M and sprinkle toppings.
Heres a picture of one of their sundae concoctions.
I have debated whether to include the following detail in this trip report, and have decided that since it is a memory I will surely remember, I will share it with you after all. For the record, Id like you all to know that I am not in any way a man-hater. I love men. Ive had great relationships with the men in my life, and hope to raise Boo as a good man. The guy that I am about to describe is not a typical guy; he is the exception.
I think that one of the reasons I dont remember what I ate at H & V is that I was very preoccupied by the older man at the neighboring table. I had noticed an appreciative look from him before we sat down. Nothing wrong with that, its nice to know Im still a little feminine! It didnt stop at the appreciative glance, however.
He was staring.
Ogling.
Trying to make goo-goo eyes with me while his wife, son, and grandchildren shared his table.
Time to back off the viagra, guy.
I was trying not to look at him, because I knew that would just make it worse. And I knew that not looking at him was fueling it too because I think he was taking pleasure from the fact that I was uncomfortable. He seemed like a macho guy who enjoyed staring at women whether they liked it or not.
HE must be fun to live with.
I didnt mention it to Dix, because though he is not the least bit the jealous type, he does not appreciate being slighted, and will rise to the occasion to defend a perceived slight to his family. Plus, I didnt want it to ruin his dinner.
So I ignored Sleazy Viagra Guy, and tried to enjoy my dinner without looking at him. But do you know how hard it is not to look at someone when you know they are looking at you? Ive had plenty of practice with this. When I was about 6, my brother was an explosive toddler. Dinnertime was the worst, and he went through a phase in which he would throw an enormous fit if I looked at him while he was eating. I would try my very best to help keep the peace and eat while staring down at my plate, knowing he was watching my every move and was just waiting for me to screw up. Id last the longest time, and then couldnt take it anymore and would invariably glance up at him, to a reactive WHHAAAAA! The fight was on.
I felt like that all over again, only this time around, I didnt like the guy whose eyes I was avoiding.
For, the record, I dont think Sleazy Viagra Guy was looking at me because he thought I was attractive. I think he just likes to oggle women, no matter who they are or where he is. I think he would have done it to any woman who had been sitting in my seat.
Yuck.
We had some time to burn after dinner, so we browsed through the shops. I found a pair of black Mickey Mouse mittens that matched the Brat Hat, and decided to buy them for Boos hands. I also found a sweatshirt for myself.
For the past few days I had been wearing my down vest for warmth. It was adequate for the daytime cold, but Dix and I were concerned that it wouldnt be enough for the nighttime show of Fantasmic! We were shocked at the $40 price tag of the sweatshirt, but I knew that I would wear it enough to make it worth the money.
Sis and Dix didnt need any new warm clothes; they both tend to run warmer than the rest of the population.
With a new sweatshirt and a pair of Brat Mittens, we were off to Fantasmic! We had reserved seating because we had eaten at Hollywood & Vine, but when we arrived there was plenty of room in the general seating area. We saw a completely empty bench in the very front. I couldnt believe our luck; it was like it had been reserved just for us! This was the second time that had happened since we arrived at MGM!
Rae, did you read the Unofficial Guide? Do you think there is a reason that not one person out of 10,000 people is sitting in the very front row in the middle?
Before the show started, Sis danced on the pavement in front of us to the music playing over the loudspeaker. She is a darling little dancer; she bends and straightens her knees while bobbing her head up and down until she almost falls over.
So cute, sweet angel.
The hot cocoa vendor came by, and Dix bought a $4 insulated mug of hot cocoa. I liked the mug and knew I could use the mug at home for my Love Coffee, and Dix and the kids would share the drink throughout the show. It was a win-win situation for us all.
The show started and Dix and I immediately understood why our seat had been empty! There was a continual mist of water being sprayed onto our bench from the laser screen! BRRRR, cold! We stuck it out for a few minutes, hoping that this phenomenon would only last a brief time, but this was not to be the case. We were doomed for a good soaking.
We packed up our belongings and Boo became worried we were going to leave. Both kids were enthralled with the show. I remembered the UG mentioning that many children were scared of this show. Not mine; they wanted nothing else than to watch it, mist be damned.
To convince the kids that we needed to move to higher ground, I asked them to touch the outsides of their coats to feel how wet they had become. They were surprised at how damp they were and agreed to move. We found a seat in the reserved section where we had initially been instructed to sit and though not as misty as the front row, there was still plenty of water being sprayed our way. I held Sis tightly and wrapped my arms around her so that the water would land on me and not her. I was thankful that I had the new sweatshirt I was wearing; I wouldnt have lasted more than five minutes otherwise.
We all sat in awe and watched the remainder of the show while sipping hot chocolate.
I must tell you that I have spent a considerable amount of time thinking about how I should describe Fantasmic!. After only seeing it one time, Im a bit unsure of my recollection of all that I saw; I know there was a medley of laser pictures, water spray, fire, human actors, and animatronics all choreographed together so perfectly that it was difficult to register everything I saw as separate entities. Does that make any sense?
It was perhaps the best show I have ever seen, and the only negative I can say about it, besides the mist, is that I fear everything I see from here on out will pale in comparison. Disney set the bar too high with that one.
When the show ended, we gathered our things, and Dix realized that the mug of cocoa was gone. He knew he had set it on the empty seat next to him, touching Siss bottle of milk. He had done that on purpose so that he wouldnt forget either one.
There was no one sitting next to Dix. No one below him. Only two preteen girls above him.
One of them had taken the mug of cocoa.
I told Dix to give her the benefit of the doubt; maybe she thought it was her own! He reminded me that it was touching the baby bottle. She would have had to navigate the cup around the bottle very carefully in order not to knock over the bottle. Theres no way that was an oversight.
We could live without our $4 mug, and I was happy that Boo was none the wiser that someone had taken something from us. Weve had plenty of discussions about the subject of stealing lately, and he would be devastated if he knew someone stole from us; to him that is an unforgivable sin.
Mugless, wet, but warm, we made it back to our room at Old Key West, and were asleep the minute our heads hit our pillows.
It had been a beautiful day.
Next Installment: Part 11...Time for a break...
Previous Installments:
Without Usable Points, Pretrip
Part 1...We are NOT wanted by the FBI!!
Part 2...I am NOT a drug addict!!
Part 3...Who put this diaper on me?
Part 4... Just leave me for dead on the side of the road!
Part 5... Where is Dix?
Part 6... The Brat Hat!
Part 7...Why didn't I listen to Dix?
Part 8...The Hanky Panky Promise!
Part 9...Forgive me Zurg, for I have sinned.
Me, Rae, 34, Disney lover
Dix, 43, Great guy who who makes Love Coffee
Boo, 4.95 year-old picky eater wearing a Brat Hat
Sis, 1.95 year-old who can holler louder than a blowhorn
Goldi Locks, Nice DVC member who traded her points with us
Laser-accuser guy: Nice man helping out with world safety
Mr. Customs Man: Grumpy, serious guy in uniform with no patience for drugs or childbirth
Mr. And Mrs. No Manners: Rude people who pop up with different faces throughout our trip
Cute little girl in the front: Loud mouth who unintentionally traumatizes kids young kids on rides
Cousin: Make-up-less advisor whose areas of expertise include hats and droopy b**b prevention
My Dad: Fearless landrover driver who makes great spaghetti
My Mom: Woman who loves blue and might show up unannounced
Love-Boat-bellhop-guy: CM who likes to rescue damsels in distress
Shoe Girl: Girl who wears the most inappropriate Walt Disney World shoes EVER!
Inventory of important trip items:
Three new premium annual passes
Fancy Laser Camera
Unofficial Guide to Disneyworld
Missing Disney Dining Experience cards
Brat Hat
Old Key West Key Card
Love Coffee
Sis fell asleep in the car on the way back to Old Key West, so we carried her into the room and put her in her crib. We told Boo he would have to play quietly, and he appeared to relish the quiet time to disappear into his own imagination.
The message light on the telephone was flashing. I ran to pick it up, and hoped it was the front desk informing me that either my Disney Dining Experience fax had arrived or my mother was sitting in the hospitality house waiting for our return.
Our Disney Dining Experience fax had arrived!
No offense, Mom, but thats almost as good as you being here.
Dix lay on the sofa, closed his eyes, and was snoring within minutes.
I was too jazzed from our great morning at Magic Kingdom to sleep. I stayed in bed for a while, and like Boo, truly enjoyed the time to retreat into my own thoughts. When I rose, I was happily surprised to see Dix studying the Unofficial Guide! What a good man! I kissed his cheek.
I heated the leftover chicken tenders and rice in the microwave, scrambled a few eggs, and boiled a couple of hot dogs. We would nibble on this hodgepodge high-protein buffet for lunch.
After Sis woke and ate, we didnt waste much time loading into the car. We stopped quickly at the hospitality house to pick up the DDE fax, and were at the MGM parking lot in no time at all. We had to take the tram from the MGM parking lot to the entrance, and again I noted that it would have probably been faster to take the bus because it would drop us off directly at the entrance.
Boo seemed a bit tired during the walk into MGM, but he perked up when the very first thing he saw was Mary Poppins waving at him from a car driving down Hollywood Boulevard. We had arrived right in time for the parade, and there was a nice spot on the curb in which to sit. It was as if it had been reserved just for us.
We couldnt have planned it any better.
The kids were excited to see Mary Poppins, and then suddenly Boo spotted Buzz Lightyear and crew approaching. He almost jumped out of his skin. He frantically waved to Buzz and yelled, Hi Buzz! Hi Buzz!
One of the Toy Soldiers stepped out of line and came to our side of the street to slap hands with kids on the curb. As he came closer and closer to us, Boos excitement penetrated his feet and he jiggled them on the pavement while trying to sit still on the curb.
The Toy Soldier was in front of Boo holding his hand out for a hand slap. I put my fancy laser camera up to my face, and focused it on the soldier and his hand.
The slap never came. I heard Dix say, Give him a high-five, son. No high-five came. I put the camera down to see what the trouble was, and then realized Boo was desperately trying to see around the Toy Soldiers body. Buzz was coming, and the Soldier was in the way!
Boo finally gave his hand a soft push out of his way. There was Buzz!!!!
Hi Buzz! Hi Buzz! He waved his hand as quickly as he could.
Sis was following his lead, and trying her hardest to wave, watch her brother, and yell hi buzz all at the same time. She ended up waving her arm all over the place as if she were directing traffic while muttering a long, loud, Uzzzzzzzz.
Though Buzz was the highlight for us, the kids truly enjoyed the rest of the parade. They knew each and every character that appeared. They both quietly studied the evil Jafar, and Sis took special delight in seeing Snow White.
It was a great parade.
We had a 4:10 priority seating at Hollywood and Vine shortly after the parade ended. Even with our priority seating reservation, we waited a long time on the porch to be seated for dinner. People who checked in after us were seated well before us. At one point, everyone else was seated and we sat alone on the porch, waiting. I asked the hostess several times what was taking so long, and each time she would go into the restaurant, and come back out and not say anything to me. When I asked her what she had found out, she appeared to have forgotten all about me and would go back in the restaurant and come out again without an answer.
This was our second disappointing experience with being seated at a WDW restaurant. We were just about ready to ask for a manager when they called our name to sit down.
We enjoyed our dinner at Hollywood and Vine. I guess its safe to say that though not memorable, the food was good because, for the life of me, I cannot remember what I ate but I do remember that I was very happy with the large selection of choices. The ice cream buffet was a hit with the kids, and they truly enjoyed piling on their M&M and sprinkle toppings.
Heres a picture of one of their sundae concoctions.
I have debated whether to include the following detail in this trip report, and have decided that since it is a memory I will surely remember, I will share it with you after all. For the record, Id like you all to know that I am not in any way a man-hater. I love men. Ive had great relationships with the men in my life, and hope to raise Boo as a good man. The guy that I am about to describe is not a typical guy; he is the exception.
I think that one of the reasons I dont remember what I ate at H & V is that I was very preoccupied by the older man at the neighboring table. I had noticed an appreciative look from him before we sat down. Nothing wrong with that, its nice to know Im still a little feminine! It didnt stop at the appreciative glance, however.
He was staring.
Ogling.
Trying to make goo-goo eyes with me while his wife, son, and grandchildren shared his table.
Time to back off the viagra, guy.
I was trying not to look at him, because I knew that would just make it worse. And I knew that not looking at him was fueling it too because I think he was taking pleasure from the fact that I was uncomfortable. He seemed like a macho guy who enjoyed staring at women whether they liked it or not.
HE must be fun to live with.
I didnt mention it to Dix, because though he is not the least bit the jealous type, he does not appreciate being slighted, and will rise to the occasion to defend a perceived slight to his family. Plus, I didnt want it to ruin his dinner.
So I ignored Sleazy Viagra Guy, and tried to enjoy my dinner without looking at him. But do you know how hard it is not to look at someone when you know they are looking at you? Ive had plenty of practice with this. When I was about 6, my brother was an explosive toddler. Dinnertime was the worst, and he went through a phase in which he would throw an enormous fit if I looked at him while he was eating. I would try my very best to help keep the peace and eat while staring down at my plate, knowing he was watching my every move and was just waiting for me to screw up. Id last the longest time, and then couldnt take it anymore and would invariably glance up at him, to a reactive WHHAAAAA! The fight was on.
I felt like that all over again, only this time around, I didnt like the guy whose eyes I was avoiding.
For, the record, I dont think Sleazy Viagra Guy was looking at me because he thought I was attractive. I think he just likes to oggle women, no matter who they are or where he is. I think he would have done it to any woman who had been sitting in my seat.
Yuck.
We had some time to burn after dinner, so we browsed through the shops. I found a pair of black Mickey Mouse mittens that matched the Brat Hat, and decided to buy them for Boos hands. I also found a sweatshirt for myself.
For the past few days I had been wearing my down vest for warmth. It was adequate for the daytime cold, but Dix and I were concerned that it wouldnt be enough for the nighttime show of Fantasmic! We were shocked at the $40 price tag of the sweatshirt, but I knew that I would wear it enough to make it worth the money.
Sis and Dix didnt need any new warm clothes; they both tend to run warmer than the rest of the population.
With a new sweatshirt and a pair of Brat Mittens, we were off to Fantasmic! We had reserved seating because we had eaten at Hollywood & Vine, but when we arrived there was plenty of room in the general seating area. We saw a completely empty bench in the very front. I couldnt believe our luck; it was like it had been reserved just for us! This was the second time that had happened since we arrived at MGM!
Rae, did you read the Unofficial Guide? Do you think there is a reason that not one person out of 10,000 people is sitting in the very front row in the middle?
Before the show started, Sis danced on the pavement in front of us to the music playing over the loudspeaker. She is a darling little dancer; she bends and straightens her knees while bobbing her head up and down until she almost falls over.
So cute, sweet angel.
The hot cocoa vendor came by, and Dix bought a $4 insulated mug of hot cocoa. I liked the mug and knew I could use the mug at home for my Love Coffee, and Dix and the kids would share the drink throughout the show. It was a win-win situation for us all.
The show started and Dix and I immediately understood why our seat had been empty! There was a continual mist of water being sprayed onto our bench from the laser screen! BRRRR, cold! We stuck it out for a few minutes, hoping that this phenomenon would only last a brief time, but this was not to be the case. We were doomed for a good soaking.
We packed up our belongings and Boo became worried we were going to leave. Both kids were enthralled with the show. I remembered the UG mentioning that many children were scared of this show. Not mine; they wanted nothing else than to watch it, mist be damned.
To convince the kids that we needed to move to higher ground, I asked them to touch the outsides of their coats to feel how wet they had become. They were surprised at how damp they were and agreed to move. We found a seat in the reserved section where we had initially been instructed to sit and though not as misty as the front row, there was still plenty of water being sprayed our way. I held Sis tightly and wrapped my arms around her so that the water would land on me and not her. I was thankful that I had the new sweatshirt I was wearing; I wouldnt have lasted more than five minutes otherwise.
We all sat in awe and watched the remainder of the show while sipping hot chocolate.
I must tell you that I have spent a considerable amount of time thinking about how I should describe Fantasmic!. After only seeing it one time, Im a bit unsure of my recollection of all that I saw; I know there was a medley of laser pictures, water spray, fire, human actors, and animatronics all choreographed together so perfectly that it was difficult to register everything I saw as separate entities. Does that make any sense?
It was perhaps the best show I have ever seen, and the only negative I can say about it, besides the mist, is that I fear everything I see from here on out will pale in comparison. Disney set the bar too high with that one.
When the show ended, we gathered our things, and Dix realized that the mug of cocoa was gone. He knew he had set it on the empty seat next to him, touching Siss bottle of milk. He had done that on purpose so that he wouldnt forget either one.
There was no one sitting next to Dix. No one below him. Only two preteen girls above him.
One of them had taken the mug of cocoa.
I told Dix to give her the benefit of the doubt; maybe she thought it was her own! He reminded me that it was touching the baby bottle. She would have had to navigate the cup around the bottle very carefully in order not to knock over the bottle. Theres no way that was an oversight.
We could live without our $4 mug, and I was happy that Boo was none the wiser that someone had taken something from us. Weve had plenty of discussions about the subject of stealing lately, and he would be devastated if he knew someone stole from us; to him that is an unforgivable sin.
Mugless, wet, but warm, we made it back to our room at Old Key West, and were asleep the minute our heads hit our pillows.
It had been a beautiful day.
Next Installment: Part 11...Time for a break...
Previous Installments:
Without Usable Points, Pretrip
Part 1...We are NOT wanted by the FBI!!
Part 2...I am NOT a drug addict!!
Part 3...Who put this diaper on me?
Part 4... Just leave me for dead on the side of the road!
Part 5... Where is Dix?
Part 6... The Brat Hat!
Part 7...Why didn't I listen to Dix?
Part 8...The Hanky Panky Promise!
Part 9...Forgive me Zurg, for I have sinned.
I have been telling mine for years that she & my dad have to make at least 1 trip with us, every grandparent should get to experience that amazement and magic that is in their grandchildren's eyes at the World!
I am looking forward to more!! 
