Our "Once in a Lifetime Trip to Disney"...yeah, right

[Dixielady908]

dont leave us hanging a long time for your next installment.

Denise

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

I'm so glad your back! I was afraid you had forgot about us. I cant wait to read the rest of your TR!

 

[AussieAngel]

Yayyy, a new day!

We're heading to Sci-Fi on our first day for lunch too. Can't wait!

And 9.30 isn't an embarrassing wake up time - I woke up at 11.30am today! Whew!

 

[grumpygirl06]

I just started to read your trip report and need to let you know that I, too, decided to quit smoking on Day1 of our trip to Disney (I mean, if you have to hide what's the point and it's too d...n hot anyway to smoke down there!) I have smoked for 18 years (and I am 38, my friends, and have not smoked 1 since I left home 3 weeks ago - a BIG accomplishment for me!) I understand your DH and actually ran out of patches mid-week but managed to keep my composure! Although my DH kept asking me "what is wrong - are you mad at me? Tell your DH that I sympathize!

Congrats and I will read all of your thread tomorrow!

 

[BlueBayou]

busymom72 - Good to see you are back! Keep them coming please.

I have smoked for 18 years (and I am 38, my friends, and have not smoked 1 since I left home 3 weeks ago - a BIG accomplishment for me!) I understand your DH and actually ran out of patches mid-week but managed to keep my composure! Although my DH kept asking me "what is wrong - are you mad at me? Tell your DH that I sympathize!

Congrats!!!!! How wonderful for you!

Sher

 

[Pink Disney]

Hey there. Looking forward to more, hopefully soon.

 

[AllAboutPluto]

Yes!! Very nice CM and as I read off the times and days and places we wanted to eat, we were on a roll! Hoop de Doo at 9:30pm - at first I thought this was a little late, but with our plane getting in at 4:30, this would give us plenty of time to check in and then make our way over to Fort Wilderness. Sci Fi at 11:30am - perfect. Mama Melrose - 4:15pm ok, this might be a problem. 4:15 is after school snack time, not supper. Besides, do you seriously think we'll be hungry by that time? ok, don't panic, just take what you can get now, and call back later to try to switch it.
Princess Storybook in Norway at 12:30pm - wonderful. Whispering Canyon 7:00pm - great. Chef Mickey's at 7:40am - actually, this is great for us. We're early risers anyway, being hardy Iowa stock, and we'll want to get any early start on our last day anyway. Yippee! We're eating where we want, when we want! I am so cool! It's ok, no really its fine...go ahead and laugh at me. You veterans have already spotted a couple potentional problems with these reservations, haven't you? But for the sake of newbies like me, I'm going to leave the suspense in place.

I have to admit, I'm still suspended here... Just hoping you cover this part before Sept.

Just keep writing, Just keep writing...

 

[anb163]

I'm just subscribing. This is one of the best trip reports I've ever read.

 

[aspcamhreditor2]

Thanks for the great trip report. Looking forward to reading more!

 

[fizz13]

I so got that first morning panic, been there! A great read as always,
Claire xx

 

[Pink Disney]

Eagerly waiting. Hoping you soon have a few nonbusy moments for us.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Fabulous report. Please keep it coming.

 

[cthimes]

Been there done that with the mama (or papa) dance. On a trip in 1999, we had driven back to New England and were flying down with my in-laws. My wife and I were so exhausted that my mother-in-law woke us up pounding at the door with the limo waiting outside. There was some definite dancing that morning!

 

[busymom72]

So the hick family from Io-where has just had an awesome lunch at Sci-Fi and are determined to start walking and burn off the onion rings and cheese cake. We made it approximately 20 steps and realize we have no idea where to go. Left - Right - Foreward - Backward? We were on such a tunnel-visioned mission to get to Sci-Fi when we came in the park, we didn't even look around.

"Mommy! Mommeeeeee! Can we go see that?"

I turned to see what Princess has spied that could be our next great adventure.
It was the Miss Piggy fountain.
While she fishes around in her fanny pack for pennies to fling at the squirting swine, we look up to see a CM ushering people into the Muppet theatre because the next show is about to start. We figure we might as well join in, because a)we're here and its starting now - duh! and b)I'll admit it, we LOVE the muppets. The witty exchanges between Rizzo the Rat and Gonzo never fail to send the whole family into fits of giggles. So we abandon all good intentions of walking off our post-lunch bloating and head in for the pre-show.

Its silly...its corny....its perfect. And that was just the pre-show. We snorted as Gonzo passed from screen to screen and snickered at the writing on the crates. The doors opened to the theatre and the kids thought the show was over. Remember, this is our first 3-D show, still new to all this. And it was a riot. I've heard a lot of comments from veterans about WDW needing to revamp or eliminate this show because its old and tired. I guess we're just amused easily because we loved it.

The show ended, we dropped off our groovy glasses and trudged back out to the 95 degree Florida sun, determined to get moving. Star Tours was close, and Dude and I are huge Star Wars fans( I of course of the original trilogy and him of the recent additions.) Bear thinks we're nuts when we start debating about the Sith. Since this was our first time, I have to ask you veterans this - on Star Tours, is it normal for the attendant guy to "start things up" so to speak, leave the room for a few minutes and nothing happened, then come back in the room and push a few buttons and leave again? This happened twice. I didn't know if this was part of the act, but it just seemed like an actual malfunction. Anyway, the ride was cool and a good "ride" to break Princess in with, since she wasn't to sure she wanted to go on anything scarier than the teacups. But that being said, as much as a Star Wars fan as I am, I have to say this is one attraction that could be updated. I mean, for portraying the future of space travel, it was rather lame. I guess it just wasn't as "WOW!" as I expected. Oh, look - gift shop.

Next we checked to see what time the stunt show started. We had quite a while to wait, so we turned around and headed back up the street to kill time. My 3 stooges still hadn't seen anyone to get an autograph from, so when we spotted the Power Rangers and their car parked nearby, I thought maybe they would perk up. All three gave me their best "Oh, Mother. You can't possibly be serious. It is really so sad how you have no idea what is cool" look. I'm soo sorry, my beautiful lovely children. I don't know what I was thinking. I'll try not to speak anymore. I'll just hang back so no one knows you traveled here with your parents, but still close enough should you find yourself in need of cash. Please forgive me.

Ok, so the heat might have been making us all a tad bit cranky. But our first sampling of magic was about to smack us over the head. Before we had left home, as we were deciding what to use for autograph books, I had asked Princess whose autograph she wanted to get the most. I expected her answer to name one of the many princesses she adores. But she surprised me. "I really want to meet Mickey Mouse."
So, what a wonderful bit of serendipity that after the Power Rangers rejection, we stumbled right into the door where Sorcerer Mickey was signing autographs. We hopped into the rope maze, anxious for our first brush with Disneyworld royalty. We inched closer and closer, the girls juggling their disposable cameras and autograph books and sharpie pens, eager for their turn. At one point another family came in the door and, obviously completely overlooking the fact that about forty of us were waiting patiently in the rope maze, walked right past us to be next in line. The CM tried to explain to them the procedure, but there seemed to be a language barrier. "I want picture" she kept repeating over and over. When the CM tried to explain to her that they would have to wait in line like the rest of us, she continued to shake her head vigorously and point to Mickey. Finally, they got disgusted and left. And then......it was our turn.
Wait! Stop! Mickey, where are you going??!!
The CM explained that Mickey needed a little break. Princess looked at me with confusion. "Does that mean he's not coming back?"
I assured her he probably just had a rumbly tummy and needed a bite of cheese. Showing me that she might not be as naive as I thought, she offered this explanation, "I bet he had to go the bathroom."

Mickey returned soon and the girls each took their turn for pictures and autographs. Ok, here is a tip. I thought I was, oh so cool and smart, and got the short stubby Sharpie markers that the girls could clip to their fanny packs. This is a huge no-no. Hands that big cannot grip markers that small. Mickey was frustrated and I was embarassed. But Mickey motioned us all forward and we have a great family picture with the mouse who started it all. Priceless.

We decided to wander back to the stunt show to get a decent seat and on the way had the pleasure of hearing the street band "Blood, Sweat, and Shears" These guys were awesome! They played songs we knew and could sing along with! One more way to embarass the kiddos! Sweet!

We stopped for a couple drinks and ice cream bars which melted in, like, 2.2 seconds. By the way, this would be the first of many times, my family would have to grudgingly admit that me stuffing wet wipes into my fanny pack wasn't that crazy after all. Thanks, Dis!

By this time people were literally streaming into the stunt show and we hurried in too. There looked to be great seats a little way up in the middle of the stands. But my children, being all young and agile - curse them, headed all the way to the top. We kept thinking they'd stop and sit down, but noooo, they just kept on going.
"What are they doing?" Bear asked.
"They....are......trying.....to....kill......me......."I puffed.
I heard someone nearby snicker. Glad that amused someone.

Besides being opressively hot, and the show not being able to perform their final stunt due to technical issues, it was great performance. The guys enjoyed the "how we do it" part of the show and the girls loved seeing Herbie.

We followed that by the back lot tour. Ok, but nothing to write home about.Oh, yeah, gift shop.

Bear, Dude and Tink were determined to TOT. Princess wasn't interested (too short anyway) and I wasn't going anywhere near the place. Our supper reservations at Mama Melrose's were in about 45 minutes, so they headed off to tackle TOT and Princess and I went to see the Little Mermaid.
It was a cute show and we were in the front row, so we got misted by the water, much to Princess' delight. Went outside to wait for the other three and, you're not going to believe this, but, there was a gift shop. A princess gift shop. Every little girl's dream and every mother's purgatory.

We now had about 10 minutes to get to Mama's and the other 3 weren't back from TOT yet. God bless cell phones.
"Where are you?"
" On our way back"
"Well, hurry we're going to be late"
"What else is new?"
click

We speed-walk over to Mama's and give them our name. We're seated immediately, but the waitress is less than enthusiastic as we try to figure out what we want to eat and how to apply it to the dining plan. The food is fairly good, kids really liked the pizza. We finish up, hit the bathrooms, and head on out to meander over to Fantasmic, because Disers say to get there early. Oh, Shoot! I forgot to ask the server for our reserved seating tickets. I hurry back to Mama's and explain to the hostess that we had just eaten there but forgot our tickets. She proceeds to tell me that they don't give out those tickets for reservations as late as ours, only the earlier ones. Excuse me? So if I had kept my earlier reservation of an insane 4:30pm, I would have reserved seating? Yup, sure seems that way. I hang my head and shuffle back out to my family and explain to them that my Dis knowledge did not help me this time. (For those of you keeping track, this is #1 in the dining reservation bloopers)

So in light of this disappointing development, we decide we better hustle over to Fantasmic so we can be sure to get a seat, much less a decent one. Still not to familiar with the park, we try to remember how to get back to the auditorium for the show. We see a crowd heading in the right direction and join the herd. Hmmm, strange entrance, kind of understated. And then it dawned on us. Everybody else shuffling along beside us is carrying the special little piece of paper admitting them to the reserved section. We don't have the special little paper. We are scum. But its too late to turn back because we're already face to face with the CM. Here's where the famed pixie dust comes in. I explain what happened to her, she smiles and waves us on through. Yay! We're not common, general seating folk. 'Scuse me, pardon me. We're in the reserved section. Yeah, that's right. Move it over, sweetheart, they've saved special seats just for us.

Ok, you'd think with all the hype, that these seats would be padded with a velvet rope separating them from the lowly regular folk. Guess what? Same hard metal bleachers. Same view. They're right. There is no bad seat at fantasmic. They're all great. (Small sidenote....takes place next to standing water, where little flying annoying insects like to congregate. I kept thinking someone was waving at me. They were just trying to swat away the wall of gnats. Take bug repellent.)

The show itself was beautiful and inspiring. It would be one of our favorite attractions of the whole trip.

Exiting the theatre reminded me of running with the bulls in Spain. There are some extremely impatient, rude people in Disneyworld.

My memory is kind of fuzzy, but I believe we went back to the room and let the kids talk us into going down to the Hippy Dippy Pool to swim. Actually they swam. We drank. In serious moderation. Daiquiri's are $7 a piece. We drank very slowly. Then off to bed. Tomorrow we go to Epcot!

 

[Gerweniel]

Your trip report has had me between tears and giggles all this afternoon at work ! Thanks so much for writing it and can't wait to read more.

 

[NEMO344]

great report, thanks, we have 23 days till we go

 

[MEK]

This is really a great trip report. Sorry I didn't see it sooner. You have a great memory and you are a great story. I cried when I read about your dad taking you to the airport. That was touching!

_________________________________________________________

Max is my favorite cat!

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

Still a great TR! Keep it coming!

 

[RobinMarie]

I've been on Star Tours a lot, and never had the CM re-enter the attraction and push buttons.

Love your report so far! I'm impatient, hurry hurry!

 

[UtahMama]

Love You To PIECES!!!! Humbly requesting photos (begging!!! )

Is this your BEAR? hee hee
Replace smokes for Diet Pepsi for my addiction so I dont judge! For my familily's health and safety there best be a steady supply of my sweet diet pepsi smuggled to Disney World!

Can I be the President of your fan club? Chubby- white- albino-mamas can join!!!