Our Last Minute CANCER SUCKS Trip

[RVGal]

OK so you mentioned the Great Movie Ride is too scary for the boys? Guess too scary for a 2 1/2 and 4 yr old? Oh darn. I was hoping I could take them on that but if you think it's scary for your kids then I'm sure it would be for mine. Poop. oh well.

There are several intense sections to the GMR. One area is dedicated to ganster movies, another westerns, so the shoot 'em up scenes might bother little ones. The parts that would bother my boys are the Aliens scene (theatrical smoke with the alien creatures popping out of the walls and ceiling) and the Wizard of Oz (the Wicked Witch of the West is very realistic). I don't know if you've checked YouTube, but most of the rides have videos of them posted there. You can get a good idea of what your kids can handle from that.

TSM looks awesome! Thanks for all the pics and I can't wait to see it when we go in October. I hope the stampede (oops- I mean the orderly line of people) at RD will behave. We'll have DH in the ECV trying to get through with us. Does he have a chance?

The people at RD are usually reasonably well behaved. They will herd, immediately and quickly, for TSM. If you go straight there, even with an ECV, you will get a Fast Pass. It might not be until later in the afternoon, but you will get one.

I don't know if it is an option, but we always hand all of our park tickets to one person and let them get FPs for all of us. No reason to send the whole herd in to choke up the line.

 

[FreFam5]

Wow - I can't believe that guy in the restaurant - and I absolutely love how he got all quiet when the big cook came out. Nothing like being big and brave when it's a little woman but not so much when it's a big guy!!!!

i'm glad security handled it very quickly and quietly (well of course anything is quiet after that guy!!!!)

 

[sherreis]

The people at RD are usually reasonably well behaved. They will herd, immediately and quickly, for TSM. If you go straight there, even with an ECV, you will get a Fast Pass. It might not be until later in the afternoon, but you will get one.

I don't know if it is an option, but we always hand all of our park tickets to one person and let them get FPs for all of us. No reason to send the whole herd in to choke up the line.

Thank you. I am usually the Fastpass person - the problem with this is DH is so direction challenged that I worry that he's not going to make it to where we are going. Luckily, this time DS12 will know his way around and he is very good with direction.

 

[RVGal]

After lunch, we headed to Voyage of the Little Mermaid with our Fast Passes. That is a cute show if you know the movie. If you don't know the movie, I think you'll be lost. They sing Under the Sea, Part of Your World, Poor Unfortunate Soul and then do a fast montage of scenes from the movie. They end with a quick bit of Ariel and Eric doing the happily ever after thing. It's a really good show, but I don't think anyone could follow the storyline if they haven't seen the movie. I could be wrong. It's been known to happen.

Most of the group wanted to head to the thrill rides. You know, Rock n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. I, of course, couldn't take the boys on those. I love them and look forward to the years when I can ride them again. But for now, I'll stick with things that the boys can enjoy. I decided to do the Playhouse Disney Live on Stage.

You sit on the floor for this show. They have walkways marked and you have to sit on the floor, but not in the walkways. A hard carpeted floor for the length of the show. My tush was not happy, but I'm not complaining. Much.

The stage is set and anyone with a kid that watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse will recognize the scene.

The show starts with our energetic hostess. When Mickey makes his first appearance, the kids lose their ever lovin' minds.

Then, when the rest of the gang joins in, you'd think it was the Beatles.

Am I dating myself? How about you'd think it was the Jonas Bros.

We call Toodles ("Oh Toodles!") and move to the next section of the story, which is Handy Manny.

Then on to Little Einsteins.

And My Friends Tigger and Pooh.

Last we head back to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for Minnie's birthday party.

The rest of the gang wasn't done with the thrill rides yet, so I took the boys over to the character greeting area across from TSM. They have a cute setup there. You wait in line in an air conditioned building and there are photo ops all along the way.

Finally we arrive at Andy's Room to meet Buzz & Woody.

Yeah, dammit, the Disney PhotoPass pictures are better than mine. I might just have to break down and order a couple.

After that, we had a snack.

And then Daniel spotted "Kitty" (Sully) and we just had to have a picture, right? Let me tell you, they have hidden Mike & Sulley. If we hadn't stumbled upon them by accident, I never would have known they were there.

We joined the rest of the group and did the Indiana Jones Stunt Show and Muppet Vision 3-D. Carol was tiring out and so were we.

We called it a day and headed back to the hotel for dinner and so the boys could get a last splash in the pool. After they were in bed, I packed us up and got ready for the drive home the next day. The boys traveled like real troopers. We made the trip home in the same record time, right at 9 hours.

Up next: A look at Carol's last day in the parks and her trip home.

 

[Bloodhound]

Thanks for the great update and pics...I hope and pray your sister is doing well

 

[RVGal]

Carol is back in the hospital. She was admitted yesterday. She is running a high fever and they aren't quite sure what is going on. They have drained her surgical area and have her on 3 different antibiotics, so hopefully something will start working soon.

 

[KStarfish82]

Great update Tricia!

The pictures of the boys are adorable!

How is Carol doing?

 

[scotlass]

Hey youse....

great update.

sendin good vibes oor the water for Carol !!

 

[Mkrop]

Carol is back in the hospital. She was admitted yesterday. She is running a high fever and they aren't quite sure what is going on. They have drained her surgical area and have her on 3 different antibiotics, so hopefully something will start working soon.

Prayers RV!

 

[aldisneygrl]

Thanks for sharing the pics of Playhouse Disney. My kids are too old (10 and 15)for that, so that is a show I would never get to see.

Sorry to hear that Carol is back in the hospital. I'll be saying a prayer for all of you. I hope that the Dr.'s can figure out what is going on, and treat her.

 

[loribell]

What a great photo op area for the TS characters, and a couple of cute little hams too!

Prayers for Carol.

 

[FreFam5]

Your sister - and your entire family - continues to be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope she can get home soon.

 

[ilovediznee2]

I hope your sister is doing okay. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I do have to agree- CANCER SUCKS! I lost both of my parents to it...

 

[snoopybabe]

I hope Carol is feeling better. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Your boys are adorable.

Cancer does suck. Everytime DH thinks he will stay in remission, melanoma comes back. This time its in his lungs. Scheduled for surgery Sept 12th. Wish someday all cancer could be gone.

 

[sherreis]

I hope Carol is doing better and the antibiotics are kicking in.

Thanks for the lastest update and Playhouse Disney pics. I've never been there - my boys are too old. I feel for you on the sitting on the floor thing.

 

[Picabo]

Do you think a 2 1/2 yr old and 4 yr old would "sit still" for playhouse Disney? They are NOT fans of Little Einsteins.....so I keepthinking that maybe they'd loose interest during that part of the show. And, not a huge fan of sitting on my tushy for any length of time, either. LOL

 

[bubba's mom]

Yippee more trippie!

Actually, your afternoon sounds very peaceful (i know vs. all those 'thrill' rides!)

We'd never see Playhouse either...well, maybe in the future with my grandkids ...looks like a cool show...they incorporated a lot of characters! You would think they'd cushion the flooring if peeps were gonna be sittin' on their butts that long? What do they do w/ the folks who can't get down on the floor to sit? Then what?

Glad the boys got some quiet time...the photos are great! Lots of great photo opportunities And, you can break down and buy some...what the heck? Kids are only young once

Hope there are better things for Carol today

 

[RVGal]

Do you think a 2 1/2 yr old and 4 yr old would "sit still" for playhouse Disney? They are NOT fans of Little Einsteins.....so I keepthinking that maybe they'd loose interest during that part of the show. And, not a huge fan of sitting on my tushy for any length of time, either. LOL

To be honest, this is pretty much the only show in all the Disney parks that is completely geared toward the preschoolers. The little ones love it. My boys were 2 and 5 on our last trip and they loved it. Still loved it this trip, even though they don't watch Handy Manny. I don't know why, but they've never developed an interest in that show.

The host/hostess is very energetic. They engage the little ones and encourage them to clap along, sing along, call for Toodles, etc. A couple of times during the show, they ask the kids to stand up and hop along with Tigger or dance or whatever. Each segment is short and the whole show is fast paced. They know their audience and the short attention span that goes with that age group. I have seen nothing but a sea of happy little faces at that show and I've been 4 times now.

I hate the sitting on the floor part, but the kids love it. There is always a collective groan from the adults as we try to haul our older bodies off the ground at the end of the show, but it is totally worth it.

 

[RVGal]

What do they do w/ the folks who can't get down on the floor to sit? Then what?

There is a row of benches along the back wall of the little theater for those who can't sit on the floor. Mom used that. The kids want to be down on the floor and closer to the stage, of course. So, at least one parent/grown up is stuck having to plop down on with the kids.

I've said many times, they make that springy, cushioned flooring in the indoor playgrounds at McDonalds and other spots. Why not use that for the show? I don't know that it would make a difference, but it might be a little softer.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

There is a row of benches along the back wall of the little theater for those who can't sit on the floor. Mom used that. The kids want to be down on the floor and closer to the stage, of course. So, at least one parent/grown up is stuck having to plop down on with the kids.

I've said many times, they make that springy, cushioned flooring in the indoor playgrounds at McDonalds and other spots. Why not use that for the show? I don't know that it would make a difference, but it might be a little softer.

1st I am loving your trip report You have done a great job telling us your tale.

I totally agree about the flooring in there...also my 2 loved it and they were 3 & 4 when we saw it. No problem entertaining there. I think the issue with that type of flooring is keeping it clean and not absorbing what some ofl those toddlers/preschoolers are sitting on in the 1st place