Our Surprise Quick Trip for MNNSHP (But don't think the report is quick)..Part 5 up

[AUDramaQueen]

I figured since there are a lot of questions popping up about MNSSHP on the boards, I would tell our little story about last year’s. It’s my first trip report so be warned. I get distracted easily, tend to wander off the point, use the word “crap” a lot and abuse the use of parentheses. But as Peter Pan says, here we gooooo....

Who’s Going:
Me (30)
DH (36)
DS (5)
DD (3)
DB (Dear Baby 11 months)
My Mom
My Dad

Pre-Trip (and various ramblings):
We had just gone to WDW in May for a family reunion. I have always loved Disney World and considered myself to be a fanatic. That was until I started doing research for the May 05 trip and came upon the Dis. Boy, was I a mere Disney baby compared to the wonderful elders (I don’t mean age, just experience. Don’t get offended, sheesh) on these boards. Anyway, when we got home from our May trip, I couldn’t shake my addiction to the Disboards and then I read a thread that sparked such longing, such desire that it consumed my thoughts night and day. I am talking about Baloo’s MNSSHP sticky thread. I looooooove Halloween and I loooooooooooove Disney World. So what could be better than combining two of my great loves? Nothing I could think of. (OK I’m dramatizing a little for the sake of effect. There are several things that are better than Halloween, but better than Disney? That’s a very short list. Pretty much God, family and a couple of my friends. That’s it. Wow, I need a life).

So I begin plotting on how to talk my DH and my parents into it. My husband is the sole bread winner so his concern is, you guessed it, financial. My plan of attack for him: We still have one day left from our trip in May to use for Epcot and the Food &Wine Festival. Party tickets aren’t that much and since park crowds are limited you get to do everything you would in a whole day in just one night for half the price. That’s my reasoning anyway. My parents live relatively close so we will just stay at their house and not on property. We’ll drive of course because we are the road trip family. This was before gas prices went crazy. How was I supposed to know? Anyway, my parents don’t really need a reason so they were pretty easy. However, when I mention the F&W Festival to my mother, I could hear her eyes light up over the phone. Oh I’ve got her now. Because my parents looooooooooooove food and looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove wine. Seriously, they’re winos, but in a good way. So I mention the wine tastings and special dinners. I actually hear her sucking in the drool as she tries to hold back her excitement. As to not give away her enthusiasm she calmly says, “That sounds like fun. Give us the dates”. I originally want to go to the October 13th party, because my birthday is the 14th. My birthday, the Magic Kingdom and a Halloween party? Oh my, it doesn’t get any better than that. Well, except we can’t go on the 13th because my Dad will be out of the country. Crap. So we go for the October 2nd date. Mom checks with Dad and orders the tickets. I am not upset about not going on my birthday at all now because Mom has informed me that they have found several things they want to do (I gave them links to allears and the Dis. You know, just so they would be informed, not because I knew the temptation of the F&W festival would be too much for them to resist. Really. Honestly, I just wanted them to know their options). Anyway, Mom thinks staying at their house would take up valuable wine drinking time so we are now staying at OKW in a 2 bedroom villa. Sweet! Oh and when she got my DD’s tickets (she wasn’t three yet last trip) she went ahead and got the rest of us 3 day park hopper passes. Double Sweet! Yes, my parents rock! Oh and spoil the heck out of us.

Since we just went in May and the older two helped plan that trip, we decide to surprise them this trip. The day of our trip finally arrives and the biggest surprise was I was able to keep my mouth shut about Disney for two months! It was very hard because I’m one of those women who reads the Dis all day and then rambles on to her husband all night about what I read. He’s such a sport and pretends to be interested. Anyway, the day we leave, I’m running around crazy and have to leave the older two in “late day” at their pre-school (which is only an hour “late” by the way). My DS is furious with me and won’t stop whining about how he had to stay with all the babies and all his friends left on time, blah, blah. It’s everything I have within me to keep from saying “shutup! (not that I’ve ever told my kids to shutup, well, Ok once but it was right after the baby was born and I was very sleep deprived and they were way out of control and I immediately apologized and now I’ve forgotten what I was typing. Sorry. Oh.) if you knew I was running around getting ready for Disney, you’d be ecstatic about late day!” But I didn’t say anything. Anyway, I have everything packed and since we’re slobs and haven’t put up our suitcases from our last family trip (no, not the May Disney trip, we’re not that bad), they don’t notice a thing. They take their naps and I tell them we’re going for a ride when Daddy gets home from work. DS keeps asking where we’re going. I keep blowing him off. He keeps asking, but in different ways as to try and throw me off. “What are we doing tonight?” “Will we be in the car long?” etc. Smart Kid. Too much like his mother though. Finally, Daddy’s home. Yay! He sneaks all the luggage in the car and we tell the kids to get in. DS notices his backpack is in the car. “Why do we need my backpack?” He asks. “Uhm, we might go hiking” was the only thing I could come up with. OK so I’m not really good with the surprise cover-up part and this will backfire on me later. Anyway we’re off! (Good thing because this is already pretty long and we haven’t even left).Woo Hoo! Now, will we be able to keep the surprise???

 

[frannn]

Just wondering, since you mention the car, and no plane...
How does everyone with these spectacular, detail-rich trip reports remember so much from so many months ago?? I have trouble remembering what I had for the breakfast this morning!

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Just wondering, since you mention the car, and no plane...
How does everyone with these spectacular, detail-rich trip reports remember so much from so many months ago?? I have trouble remembering what I had for the breakfast this morning!

No, we are in Alabama. It's about a 7 hour trip by car. We've always been road trippers though so it's no biggie to us. I've been blessed, or maybe cursed, with the ability to remember useless random things, like lines from just about any movie or song that came out in the 80's, but can't remember my pediatrican's phone number or when it's DS's snack day at pre-school. I'm almost done with part two. I'll post soon.

Thanks!

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Part 2: The Drive Down (yes, I know we should be already at Disney with as long as this is, but I didn’t want to skip all the surprise stuff)

We hit the road (by the way we had a very quick dinner before we left. I say dinner, but it was really just sandwhiches. Lame, I know, but we had to go!). The kids are excited just to be in the car. I’m a little worried once we get on Highway 231 because the only time we ever get on this road, we have gone to my parents and then Disney World. Now, DS may only be 5, but he’s a very smart 5 year old and remembers directions very well. We went to a nearby lake once and a month later we were on the same road and he asked if we were going to the lake again. He remembers everything, including the fact that I told him we might go hiking. So, we’re on the road about 15 minutes when he see a patch of trees. “Hey, there’s a forest. Let’s hike there.” Now, there’s something you must know about my son. You have to explain an answer to him. He is not satisfied with yes or no. There must be a reason for your answer and he has to be convinced by your answer. He just doesn’t take your word for it. So just saying “we can’t” doesn’t work. He gets this from me unfortunately. However, I couldn’t come up with a convincing enough response. All I said was, “too late. We’ve passed it already.” “Well turn around” Crap, he’s got me. “Uhm, we can’t. There’s no place to turn around.” He’s not quite convinced, but let’s it go. Until the next group of trees. However, I am super mom and anticipated this and have a much better answer. “See, honey, there’s a fence around those trees. That means they belong to someone else and we can’t trespass. That would be wrong.” Aha! Got him. But now every time he sees trees and a fence he makes a comment. “We can’t go hiking there. Those belong to someone else”. Now, we live in Alabama (no jokes please. My dad was transferred here when I was in 9th grade and hard as it is for some to believe, I chose to stay here after graduation. I went to college here and met my husband. I tried to fight the fact that I lived in the South for a long time. But now I realize I love it here. Oh and yes the national news purposely finds the stupidest people to interview after tornadoes. We’re not all that dumb, really. No, really. I think some of those people may actually be hired actors. ) and there are lots of pine trees and little patches of trees. Trees line the roads for miles. So he’s saying this every 3 minutes. But, this I can handle as it has apparently distracted him enough to not realize where we are.

I am very convinced in our ability to pull it off now when my DD speaks up. Out of nowhere she says, “I want to see Mickey’s Philharmagic when we get to Disney World.” Crap. My husband and I just look at each other, like did you tell her, no, did you tell her. My husband asks, “You mean the next time we go?” She says“Yeah, I really liked it and want to go on it again. And Dumbo too. And Snow White, but if we go on Snow White, I’ll hide my face when the mean witch spins around and looks at you. Oh and the Jesus ride at Epcot.” (you know, the Jesus ride. Sheesh what’s wrong with you people? I’m talking about Spaceship Earth, of course. Actually I have no idea why, but she started calling it that in May. I guess the scene with the Jewish scholars started it. I really can’t imagine the inner workings of my 3 year old’s mind and while I’m on the subject. I think this is great proof that children do remember their trips to Disney World and that is a terrible excuse not to bring your pre-schooler to WDW. I mean if you don’t do anything with your kids until you’re sure they’ll remember it then why have birthday parties, etc. OK enough ranting. Sorry.) I just start laughing because I get really happy talking about Disney and now we’re talking about Disney on the way to Disney. It’s too much. Oh happy, happy day! Dh is looking at me like shutup you’re gonna give it away and assures her the next time we go she can do all that. Wink, wink. Then DS starts in with all he wants to do. Pirates, Haunted Mansion and he also wants to go trick-or-treating at MNSSHP. DH looks at me again. I do the little quick shake of my head at him as to say he doesn’t know that’s what we’re doing. See, remember when I told you he never forgets anything and that I loooooooove to talk about what I learn on the Dis. Well, it seems before I even talked to my family about going, I told DS about MNSSHP.

I confess. I’ve turned my kids into Disney freaks. We talk about Disney all the time. We look at the ride-thru videos on the internet and play Park Hopper radio. In fact, a couple months ago we were all sick with a stomach bug and DS went and put the WDW planning DVD in because he knew it would make us all feel better to see Disney. Uh, too sweet. I get teary eyed thinking about it. Anyway, DS likes for me to talk to him about Disney. He especially likes it right before his nap. Like I said, he’s smart, and knows he won’t have to sleep for another 45 minutes, easy, if he can get Momma talking about Disney. Yes, I need a life. But I’ve digressed. Again.

So we spent the next several minutes talking about Disney and our favorite rides and favorite characters and I would sing a song from a Disney movie and they would have to guess what movie.

The kids finally fall asleep and my Mom calls about ten o’clock. They’ve been to Epcot and they are, ahem, under the influence. But since they’re winos, she can still hold a relatively decent conversation, but in a slightly higher volume than usual. She says they’re all checked in and have left word at the gate that we’ll be in late. I tell her we should be there around 2 am and ask what building, room they’re in etc. I hang up. Five minutes go by, no lie, then DS asks, “Who were you talking to?” I remain silent (which is unusual for me) weighing my options. This is a critical moment in keeping the surprise a secret. “Was it Grandma?” Crap! I’m still silent. I give my husaband the "pleading eyes" look. You see, since my parents moved to FL in 2004, every time we have visited them we have gone to Disney. If I tell him it was her, the gig is up. Or so I thought. “If it was Grandma, are they going hiking with us?” Ah, my poor, sweet, gullible kid. “Yes, son they are.” He goes back to sleep. Sucker!

OK, I’ve spent way too much time on this and will now skip ahead to the big reveal. My husband is driving again when we hit the FL turnpike. The kids are asleep so I’m not worried about them seeing the signs or anything. So we pay our toll and DD wakes up because of the lights and hearing my DH talk to the attendant. We hit I-4 and she sees a sign with Pluto on it. She yells, and I mean yells, “Pluto!” I was so excited, but DS didn’t wake up at all so we’ll wait until we pass through the main gate at Disney. We see DTD and I start trying to wake DS up. He opens his eyes for like two seconds and then goes back to sleep. I try to wake him again, but he just won’t wake up. I’m actually leaned over my seat shaking him. He just isn’t getting it. Crap. We’re almost to the gate. “WAKE UP AND LOOK OUT YOUR WINDOW! NOW!!!” Unbelievable! We’ve waited two months for this exact moment and DS is going to sleep through it. Even his sister is yelling at him to wake up. Finally, at the very last second he opens his eyes and sees Mickey out his window. He looks at me puzzled. “Where are we, bud?” DH asks. He sits up in his seat higher and looks out his window still groggy. Wait for it, wait for it. There it is. His face lights up and asks, ”Are we at Disney World?” Yes, yes my sleepy headed gullible child, we are indeed at the Happiest Place on Earth. It takes a minute to fully sink in and then he yells. “This is the best surprise ever!” Sweet!

I call my Mom and tell her we’re here so she can unlock the door and meet us. We get to the gate at OKW. Welcome Home! Yes, yes I am home! I am home! The gate keeper asks us our name. We tell him our parents have already checked in and who we are and they were supposed to know we were coming in late, yada, yada. He says he doesn’t see our name on the list. Crap! I give him the room number and ask him to call my Mom. He looks at his watch and says it’s a little late to be disturbing guests. I assure him I just talked to her and she is awake. He looks at his list again and says he’s going to call the front desk. I go ahead and call my Mom and tell her to call the front desk. He sees me on the phone and asks if that’s her. Yes, please, just call the room so I can get out of this car for the love of Mike! He calls. She answers. We’re in! Woo. Hoo! Well, you don’t have to worry about security at OKW. Don’t even think about it, you evil pool hoppers!

Mom meets us outside and helps us get in. We’re all so excited it takes a while to go to sleep. Well, except the baby. No, we didn’t forget him at the house. I just haven’t mentioned him because he’s a very laid back go with the flow kind of baby. We put him in his, ahem, room which is really the very large sized laundry room OKW has. It fits a pack-n-play just fine and that way we don’t have to worry about waking him up, etc. Found that one out on our May trip when we also stayed here. Anyway, we finally fall asleep. Well they finally fall asleep. I never really “sleep” at Disney. Much too excited.

Well thanks for sticking with me! Tomorrow Saturday October 1st. We’ll hit Epcot and encounter the crowds that are the Free Dining Plan Hordes!

 

[Iggipolka]

Great trip report. You have a lot of enthusiasm!
However, could you use some more paragraphs? It would make it easier to read your report.

Thanks!

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Part 3: Epcot and MK (and more paragraphs, promise)

The kids wake up before I want to get out of bed so I send them to my parents’ room (how mean, I know. Actually, they offered the night before. Like I said, my parents rock!) I lay in bed a little while longer than it hits me. I’M AT DISNEY! What am I doing still in bed? Up, up. It’s about 9 o’clock. Talk to the family about the plan for the day.

My parents have a wine tasting at the California Grill in the afternoon. We’re planning on hitting FW at Epcot with my parents, then go back to the room and nap and then meet them at MK. I decide, unwisely, to forgo my shower until we come back in a couple of hours and take one while the kids are napping. It may sound gross to you, but with 3 small kids I’m not used to showering until the afternoon anyway. So technically it hasn’t even been 24 hours since my last shower. This will also backfire on me. Anyway, I get our backpack packed and thanks to the Dis I am very efficient in doing so. Our building is very close to the bus stop. We fold DB’s umbrella stroller and load the bus to Epcot.

We get to Epcot around 10, I think. We usually aren’t big into character interactions. Not that my kids don’t love them, we just like rides better. But when we get there, there are tons of characters out hidden among the horrible Leave a Legacy monuments. Like they’re hiding in a graveyard or something. (sorry, but those things just really take away from the entrance to Epcot) Anyway, we see Prince John and my kids love Robin Hood so we take a picture. Then we see Robin Hood and Friar Tuck, so we take a picture. Then we see Captain Hook and Smee, you can guess what happened next. We take a picture. DH and I decide to go rent our double stroller for the weekend and leave the kids with my parents to take more pictures. They get one with Goofy and then the character bus leaves. By the way DB is in several of the pictures just sitting off to the side in his umbrella stroller. We get our big honkin’ double stroller (yes, all you stroller haters, we have two strollers and one is a double. Aha, watch out! Seriously, I’ve only run over one person and that was Mom who did the “stop-short” thing. We are very courteous stroller drivers and will even stop if you cut right in front of us. It’s Disney. I’m in a happy, happy place!)

After we return with the stroller, DS and DD run up to us and tell us that Mickey pointed and waved at them, just them, when he was leaving on the bus. Yes, yes, my sweet gullible children. He was only waving at you. You keep that innocence as long as you can. Now, my kids don’t think that is really Mickey Mouse. They know that is a man (or a woman. Wait, are woman allowed to be Mickey?) dressed up. I didn’t tell them this. DS just assumed that a 7 foot tall mouse in a tuxedo was just a costume and he, in turn, told DD. It still doesn’t take away from their excitement or the magic in their eyes. And that’s what it’s all about. However, I don’t think he’s made a decision about the princesses. My DD definitely believes they are the real thing and just the other day said very pitifully that she missed Snow White and wanted to go see her. Of course, baby, we can go back to Disney. I would do that just for you, sweet pea. (Yes, I’m evil sometimes)

Sorry, OK. So we go on the Jesus ride first and get stuck going backwards, of course. And our audio is a little staticy. But we don’t care, because, say it with me, “WE’RE AT DISNEY!” We head over to the land and get Fastpasses for Soarin’. One of our favorites. DS absolutely loves it, too. The fastpass time is over an hour away. My parents want to take the kids to the Circle of Life. I tell them to take the older two and we’ll feed DB lunch because he was getting a little cranky.

Last trip he was still on baby food, but now he’s eating people food (wait, I guess, that should be solid food) I think we packed him a sandwich and some veggie puffs (definitely not people food, blech). He eats and checks out the people. He’s a people watcher. The kids show up and I ask Dad (who’s very Republican) how the movie was. He said my sister (who is very liberal and very green) would have loved it. Not really sure what that means as I’ve never seen it. Oh well. Fastpass time was still a few minutes away so we went on Living with the Land which for some reason my husband loves. He’s an engineer so maybe that’s it, but he’s not into plants or gardening or anything so I’m not sure why he likes it that much. In fact, he was a little upset with me last trip because he didn’t get to ride it. I think it’s OK. I liked the Mickey shaped pumpkins, but I could bypass this ride. The kids like it though. Although I have found my kids like every ride, just about.

By the time we get out our fastpass time is open. My parents were going to watch the younger kids while we went on Soarin’, but they were running out of time to make their wine tasting at the Contemporary. So we had to use the child swap for the first time. Very cool. We showed them our fastpasses and he gave me a ticket allowing me to come back later with, I think, up to two more people.

So I hung out with DD and DB while DS and DH rode. It seemed like it took forever, but I think that’s because DD was being a little, um, difficult, let’s just say. She was tired and hungry and would take turns laying on me and then trying to run away from me. DB was fine, I think, he may have been asleep actually. Isn’t that sad I can’t remember. Poor third child. He doesn’t even have a baby book. Boy, will I be resented in the future. Anyway, Dh and Ds return and so I get to ride with Ds. I really like this ride. I was born in California and a lot of my family still lives there. So this attraction is sort of special to me. My son just loves it too.

We finish flying over the Golden State and realize it’s monsooning outside. What a perfect time for lunch. Plus it’s almost 1 o’clock. Wow, we’ve been here three hours and haven’t left the Land. Ugh. Oh well. By the time we finish eating I realize we need to get the kids back for a nap. My Dh thinks we should just stay at Epcot. Why? I ask, because you have to convince me too. Told you Ds got it from me. He thinks by the time we get back to the hotel and get them to sleep, it will be time to meet my parents. He thinks we should just walk around through WS and the kids can rest or fall asleep in the strollers (which, yes, my DD will fall asleep in those hard plastic strollers with no problem). His plan makes sense, but, as you may or may not remember, I did not bathe this morning. My sweet Dh tells me I smell just fine and not to worry. Uhm, OK, I guess. Sorry.

So after draining our strollers (now, I know why they're plastic, very easy to dry out) we head to WS and I’m excited to see what the F&W Festival has to offer. DH wants to skip all the Mexican type food since “we can get Mexican anywhere.” I tell him it’s not the same, but bypass it just the same. We actually don’t get too far into WS before we need to head to MK. So we turn around and head to the exit. I'm a little sad because I really want to try some food, but we're coming back Monday. Now the kids may have rested but they did not nap. Yes, we’re setting ourselves up for potential disaster, but we chance it. But of course they all fall asleep on the monorial.

Up next, heading to MK and will DS or won’t he ride Splash Mountain???

 

[Minniespal]

Sounds fantastic ~ Thanx for sharing.

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Part 4: MK

By the way, I forgot to mention the reason why we didn’t get very far into WS Saturday afternoon is because it was pa-acked (the hyphen is supposed to emphasize just how crowded it was). The F&W Festival is a huge draw to locals, I assume, and this is also the first day of Disney’s free dining plan offer. Why we did not take advantage of this wonderful offer. Well, I didn’t think we would be staying on site and I don’t think we stayed enough days. It was very hard to maneuver so we really just gave up.

Anyway, we were on the monorail on our way to MK. We thought about taking another loop around, but my Mom called (is there anywhere on property where cell phones don’t work?). They were walking over from the Contemporary and would meet us at the stroller pick-up place. So we decided to wake the kids up. Actually I saw the Castle and got all excited and woke them up. What can I say? MK is my fa-avorite park and I could spend my entire time here, especially since I have kids now. It’s even better.

I also get excited because there are several Mickey-shaped pumpkins and signs for MNSSHP. I’m so excited about tomorrow night!! Anyway, we’re only going to stay a little while because we’ll be here tomorrow night for the party and we didn’t get a lot of sleep last night and want to make it an early night.

We’re all hungry, but my parents want table service. Don’t think that’s gonna happen with the free dining plan and no ADR. I was right so we go to Cosmic Rays, I think. Ahhh, my mind is going blank. No it was Pecos Bills. Sorry! We’ll eat at Cosmic Rays tomorrow night. That’s right, we eat at Pecos Bills then backtrack to Pirates. I like their burgers and my dad goes crazy at the toppings bar. I don’t see how he can eat a burger with that much stuff on it without using a knife and fork, but he does. Anyway, we head to Pirates. I have to ride this ride every time I come at least once. We skip the Jungle Cruise because we thought it would be cool to ride tomorrow night. That won’t happen though. Anyway, Mom and DH are tired and want to head back. What? We haven’t done anything? Losers! I am running on pure Disney-adrenaline and could go all night. And my dad is my fellow true Disney fan so he’s up to staying with me. DS is going strong too, so he stays with us and the rest go back to OKW.

We decide to ride BTMRR and SM since DS hasn’t ridden before. Then we won’t have to worry about doing them tomorrow with the other kids. We get fastpasses for SM and head to BTMRR. DS likes Goofey’s barnstormer so he agrees to try it. We’re in line for about 30 minutes and this British family in front of us strikes up a conversation with us. Well actually the two 12 year old girls strike up a conversation with us. They ask DS if he’s been on the ride. The ask if he’s been to Universal (ahh, blasphemy!) They ask if he likes this and that. He’s normally a fairly talkative fellow, but I think the accent is throwing him off. I was actually having a tough time understanding them sometimes. I know I am from Alabama, but like I said my family is from all over and I actually lived overseas before. These girls just have a very thick accent. Not Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, but close. Not making fun of anyone. I just had to ask them to repeat themselves several times. They didn’t seem to mind and talked quite a lot. This was their last night and they had been there for two weeks. They got out of school for it and they get out every year. They were best friends and would be best friends forever (BFF).Very talkative girls. But I work with the Youth Group at our church so I am well aware of girly babbling and it doesn’t bother me at all. My DS just looked at them like they were crazy because they really never stopped talking. They were very impressed, however, that DS rode ToT last May. They said they were too scared. He said it was a little scary. I have the ride photo to prove he thought it was pretty darn scary, but I guess he’s learning at an early age how to impress the ladies. My dad also rolls his eyes because he had to ride ToT last May too. I had him wait in line with us in case DS chickened out at the last minute. DS didn’t so my dad faced quite a dilemma; ride a ride he doesn’t like or be humiliated by the fact his 4-year-old grandson rode it but he was too chicken. My dad is a prideful man so, of course, he won’t be shown up by his grandson. I did mention to him that DS would be sure to tell everyone he met that his Grandpa was a ‘fraidy cat if he didn’t ride. (Like I said, I’m evil sometimes). DS was fine on it until the teens behind started joking around screaming for their Mommy. He got a little upset, but sad he would ride it again. Later. When he was a little older. My brave kid.

Anyway, we end up in the front seat for BTMRR, Jacob thought it was too fast and didn’t much like it. Usually fast doesn’t bother him. He loves the part at Test Track. It was probably the fast turns. Anyway, this made me nervous about Splash, but he says he’s up for it. That's a prety big drop. But he says he's fine. There’s still a little time before our fastpass so we look around the shop right there. Then we get in line.

It seems like the FP line took a little while, but not as long as standby I’m sure. Anyway, we’re set to be in the front, but I don’t think that’s a good idea since it’s his first time. I ask the CM if we can sit a row back since it was my son’s first time. He leans down and asks DS if he wants to get splashed. DS says yes. So the CM puts us in the front seat. Ugh! I guess he thought I was using my son as an excuse. Whatever. I'm sure if I would have protested again, he would have switched us, but it wasn't that big of a deal. So we go to the log and as we’re getting in DS has a panic attack about sitting in the front (shouldv'e kept my mouth shut) and crawls over the seat to sit with my Dad. Now I’m in the front . By myself. Great. Oh well. Bring it on. Except I forgot I’m wearing a white T-shirt (remember, I thought I would be changing at the hotel. I did not purposely wear a white t-shirt knowing I would get wet. Jeesh you’d think I was from Alabama. Oh, wait a minute. Never mind). Uhm, don’t bring it on. Please. I haven’t ridden this ride in a while and forgot how cool it is and how long. I got soaked on the first drop, but ducked so it just got my back wet. I also ducked on the last drop and all the water went over me and sa-oaked my Dad. Hee, hee! He couldn’t see out of his glasses. I’m evil I know!

Now, this next part is very hard for me. We are at my favorite park. I really, really, really want to stay. But I know we need to get back and rest so we’ll be up for tomorrow. My Dh also made me promise I wouldn’t stay very long. Ahhh, man. I am so jonesing to go on HM, but I show great restraint and we head back to OKW.

Tomorrow: Swimming. Downtown Disney and MNSSHP!!!

 

[fizz13]

Really enjoying your report, your disney spirit spreading to your kids sounds a lot like me and my kids and not wanting to ever leave is something we have in common too. I will be at MNSSHP later this year so can't wait to hear your view of it,

Claire xx

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Part 5: Sleepin’ In for party Night (Oh, and costume fiasco)

We just hung out Saturday night and watched baseball, I think. Sunday morning we woke up late (well as late as possible for my kids). By 10:00 we decided to check out the pool with the older two kids. They’re not swimmers and headed to the baby pool to splash around. It bothers DH that they aren’t more adventurous around water. He doesn’t want them to jump in and drown or anything. He just wishes they would jump to him or play with him a little more in the water. We have a boat and everything. It’s my fault though. I’m fairly brave and would do just about anything. Unless, it involves water. I can’t help it. I freeze up. I’ve tried to fake it for the kids sake, but it may be genetic. I know I got it from my Dad. At least we don’t have to worry about them drowning because they jumped in without us. Oh well.

Today I am not at my best. I am at Disney, but not at a park and I am a little cranky. I am not a “stop and smell the roses” kind of person while at Disney (or anywhere else for that matter). I have to psyche myself up for these kinds of days and it takes great concentration on my part to slow down. But after three kids my concentration sucks so there you go.

Our plan is to swim and head to DTD around 11:00 to have lunch. Shop a little then back to the room for naps so the kids can hold out as long as possible. It’s very close to 11 now and I’m trying to edge the kids toward heading back. They start whining. I start getting upset. It’s not full-out meltdown, but we’re heading there. Quickly. Then I remember my parents said they would buy them each a toy at DTD (yes, they’re spoiled by them) and that motivates them without involving further discipline.

OK, I’m calming down now, but then they start messing with my plan and want to go to The Rainforest Café for lunch. If we can even get in, this will take a looooot of time to do. Plus I really like Earl of Sandwich. But I’m trying to be diplomatic and not let the “commando” in me come out. (Plus I figure they’ll be full) We took the bus because the boat’s would have been longer. Rainforest cafe has a 40 minute wait. And guess what? They want to wait. Ugh. Really trying to keep it together. I know the kids will love it here so I’m focusing on that. We look around the gift shop and I stop my mother from buying several ridiculously over-priced stuffed animals and other crap they have in there. I do see a very cute set of pj’s that say Drama Queen (see my sign-on. That nickname is actually not what you think. I’m the drama coordinator at our church and I got the nickname from that. Not that I don’t have my moments though. Tee, hee). But they’re 60 bucks or something outrageous like that.

We’re seated in 30 minutes. They tell us to get in the Ape line so we do. Then some random woman who does not work there comes up to me and says I am not supposed to be in line and the hostess said to get out. What the....? I go to the hostess and ask what’s going on. She said she just told the lady that I couldn’t take my stroller in and to please park it under the mushroom. Not sure how the lady got “get out” from that, but I’m also not sure why the hostess sent a customer to tell me that either.

The food is OK here. It takes forever to eat, but as predicted, the kids love it. I’m trying to remember who we’re here for. Me! But everyone else keeps forgetting! Just kidding (Kind of). I really want to go back to the room because I wanted to be at the park at 4 and still get naps for the kids. Of course, DS remembers he gets a toy so we head to Once Upon a Toy Store. He gets a Buzz Lightyear ship and DD gets a Snow White set with the Prince and the Seven Dwarfs. DB gets nothing of course because he’s the third baby. Then my DH and DD get stuck at the Potato Head table. He wants to buy her one and help pick them out. I know it’s sweet he wants to do something with her. I know. I know, but it takes the forever! I actually stand off to the side and I am ashamed to admit it, but I actually tapped my foot. Told you. I was not at my best today. M y DH and DD are having a wonderful time and I’m worried about my schedule. Ugh. I feel horrible writing this. Well, my DH finally comes over and gives me an “attitude adjustment” talk and I realize what a jerk I’m being. I decide to cool it and just let things happen.

We go to the $10 store and Mom finds some cute pony tail holders for DD, but nothing else. This store is too crowded for me, but I’m not much of a shopper either. We go to World of Disney and get DS a pirate hat with Mickey ears for tonight. Too cute. DH also bought him some shackles. For DS not for DH. Don’t even go there because DH did. Anyway, we got a t-shirt for DB and spend a lot of time in here, but it’s all good. I’m cool, calm and relaxed. Well, as much as I can be.

We head back and get the kids down for naps. We might make it by the time the party starts. Might. Oh well. I decide to take a nap too. I get up and start getting everyone ready. Then disaster strikes. Well, disaster in my eyes. One of the things I did before I picked up the kids Friday was to buy DD the cutest little Tinkerbell costume. I got what I thought would be a bigger size than necessary, but you guessed it, it did not fit her very well. Too small and she said it was very itchy. I feel so bad. My mom says she’ll buy her a costume when we get there as we saw several last night. I think they’re way too expensive and really don’t want her to. She insists. My poor daughter. She would have looked so cute. All I can think of, she’s gonna look at those pictures and DS will be in a costume and she won’t be. And she’s gonna think we left her out. (yeah, OK so maybe I’m a little bit of a drama queen, but that really is not where the nickname came from.)

She’s not really caring though so we head out about 5:30. We were supposed to eat in the room to save time (and more importantly money), but we didn’t have time. When we get to MK a couple of the characters are out front in costumes. Too much fun! We get our wristbands and trick-or-treat bags. I thought since we got there before 6 we were supposed to go to a certain place until the party officially started. I find a CM and they say some of the trick or treat places may not be ready but we can go wherever. Main Street is eerily lit in purples and oranges. Pumpkins are in all of the windows. It’s so neat! I’m loving it already.

We head to Adventureland because we saw a cute Alice costume there. We try to get DD to try it on, but she won’t have anything to do with it. She is perfectly happy in her little sundress and probably a lot more comfortable. And so I am perfectly happy and ready to get this party started! We did Pirates yesterday so we skip it for now. Oh, the kids got in a crazy long line for candy while we were looking at costumes. I must say the lines to “trick-or-treat” were insane. The candy’s good candy, but c’mon. I just don’t understand waiting in line for candy when you could be walking on rides.

We were going to ride Jungle Cruise, but there is a huge line (find out later what was up-it is not open and they are suing it as a character meet and greet. Tarzan, I think the Cm said). We do the Magic Carpets (walk-on) and DS gets me wet again (see Splash incident yesterday) by keeping the carpet level with the spitting camels. Then we head to one of my all time favs. The Haunted Mansion. OK, I’m back in my happy place now. It starts drizzling a little. We fold up the umbrella stroller and put it on the double (free strollers by the way for the party). We walked on. DD and Db sat with us and DS went with my parents. My dad and I are very into spooky things so this is a special ride for us. We used to always ride it together and it means a lot to both of us that we can share it with my kids (OK, cheesy moment over)

It has down-poured while we were inside. We dry out the plastic stroller, but the umbrella was fine. We’re all a little hungry so we head to Cosmic Rays (but you already knew that). We sit on the bottom level and get to enjoy Stitch’s dance party. My DD has a great time and danced while eating dinner. She wasn’t brave enough to go up there, but she still had a blast. We got some cute pictures. Db is also an aspiring dancer. He loves the music and claps and “head bangs” the whole time. We spend a lot of time here. Stitch was dressed like Elvis. It was fun. Except they did the “Macarena”. Bad College Flashback involving a tequila sunrise and well never mind...

We then do Buzz Lightyear (10 minute wait, maybe). I am terrible at this game. I just cannot get the knack of it. This really sucks because I am a very competitive person. I do better than usual though. Then the kids want to ride Buzz’s ship. Not sure what they mean. Oh no. Astro Orbiter. This ride takes forever to load, but they really want to. It did take a while, but I actually really enjoyed this ride. Probably because the kids enjoyed it so much. It goes faster than I remember.

My Mom is tired of sitting (she’s been watching DB while we rode Buzz and then his ship). I couldn’t blame her. She wants to ride Small World with the kids. We start to head to Fantasyland then I notice it’s time for fireworks. We go to the bridge and hang out until they start. We’re right under where the witch is supposed to fly, but I guess it was too windy for her or else she didn’t fly this year. Then the fireworks start. We haven’t done fireworks before because DB got upset. But his time he’s just fine and really seems to enjoy it. I forgot how much I love Disney fireworks. It was very cool. They played the opening song from The Nightmare before Christmas except I didn’t know that was it at the time. DS got the DVD for Christmas and now I can sing it by heart. I’ll be ready for next year! Several of the Disney Villains also make an appearance. Ghosts and other Halloween images are projected onto the castle during the fireworks also. It was all just awesome! “Boo to you and boo to you and boo to you and boo to and you!”

Which takes us to the “Boo to You” parade. We went ahead and found a seat in front of the Castle sort of. This was the second parade of the evening. We parked the stroller on the edge of the curb and stood behind it. Several minutes before the parade started, CM’s would come by and put candy in the kids bags. They got so much candy from the dadgum parade, we were eating it for weeks. It’s very good by the way. Now, I’m really glad we didn’t waste time in line for candy. Several of the villains came out in front of the castle too for a little song and dance.

Then the parade started with the ride of the Headless Horsemen. Too cool! I had taped on VHS when I was little a show called Disney’s Halloween Treat which had the Legend of Sleepy Hollow cartoon as a part of it. I always loved it. In fact, the tape wore out and I had to throw it away. Like I said, I’ve always been into spooky things. Anyway, apparently the HH didn’t ride the first parade because the ground was too slick. From what I understand, he really can’t see and the horse guides him the whole way (if that’s not true, please tell me. I hate to spread “Disney legends”) We were facing the bridge that leads to Liberty Square or is it Frontierland? Whatever, some bridge. He stopped there for a long time. Apparently that is VIP viewing and this family dressed up as Fastpasses were chosen to watch the parade from there. (Turned out they were Disers) Anyway, he finally heads out and it’s pretty intimidating. It’s a very big horse and he’s very big and holding this glowing pumpkin head. But like I said, very cool. (I’m sorry I’m running out of adjectives so get used to “awesome” and “cool”) DS la-oved it too!

Then a bus came out with guests chosen to participate based on their costumes. There was this family (wife, husband and 10 year old daughter) dressed up as ghosts from the HM. They had the coolest costumes. The wife and husband were ballroom dancers and the girl was dressed up as the bride. She even had a flickering red light under her dress like the beating heart. They were amazing (ooh, a different adjective. Wait maybe that’s an adverb. Whatever) Turns out they were staying at OKW too and we rode the bus back with them, but not yet...

After the bus, several popular characters (Snow White and Dopey, Alice, Pinnochio, Jasmine and Aladdin) came by dancing. Snow White and Alice both waved at the kids and they were in heaven, especially DD who loves Snow White. Then some floats with the big dogs came out. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, etc all dressed up in costumes.

Then the crew from Peter Pan come out. Peter Pan sat right next to us, but he was getting up by the time I got a picture. All I got was his butt. Then the crocodile acts likes he’s going to eat my kids. DD falls back into the stroller like she’s a turtle getting back into her shell. She kept popping in and out all night. A float with Captain Hook and Smee come out and they wave at DS since he’s dressed like a pirate. He even yells “argh” at them. Too cute! Some villains came by dancing at some point also.

The Haunted Mansion stuff was my favorite though (go figure). It started with the graveyard guy and the skinny dog (real dog by the way) Then some gravediggers came by with shovels dancing. They would scrape them on the concrete and sparks would fly. It was very loud and DD went into her turtle shell again. Then some of the ballroom dancers came by. I must say the costumes of the guests looked just as good as these. Some more characters came by (Br’er Rabbit and the crew) and then there was a big Goofy’s Candy segment and that was it.

This was also our first parade and I must say we will not miss many more. The kids had a blast. They also got lots more candy during the parade and after. So if you don’t want to stand in line for candy, just wait for the parade and have your bags ready!

We head to Fantasyland which is pretty much deserted. Last parade really cleared things out. My mom wants to ride Small World still and then head back. We do and she and my dad head back. They take DB who is almost asleep. We then walk onto Peter Pan, Pooh and Snow White. All three take like 15 minutes total to ride or something crazy like that. We walk over to Adventureland and ride Pirates again. Then it’s almost midnight so we walk slowly out.

Let me say, I la-oved MNSSHP and I highly recommend it. We decided before we left that night that this is something we could do every year. We don’t do a lot of character greets, but they were plenty around if you’re into that. The fireworks were great as was the parade (I mean a Headless Horseman, c’mon people it doesn’t get better than that). Recommend the second parade as it was not hard to find a place at all. Rides were almost all walk-ons, although we did not do the 3 mountains. We could have gotten more done, but we really didn’t want to push the kids. We also spent a lot of time at Cosmic Rays. We didn’t do the face painting either, but it was available. Don’t worry about a costume. They were plenty of adults dressed up so if you want to, go for it. But a lot of others weren’t so if you don’t want to, then don’t. You won’t feel out of place either way.

Definitely give it two thumbs up!!!

Tomorrow we’re heading back to Epcot and then I will finally end this never-ending trip report!

 

[fizz13]

Oh wow, now I really can't wait to go Thanks so much for posting. BTW I know exactly how you feel about sticking to a schedule, I truly think we are kindred spirits

Claire xx

 

[AUDramaQueen]

Oh wow, now I really can't wait to go Thanks so much for posting. BTW I know exactly how you feel about sticking to a schedule, I truly think we are kindred spirits

Claire xx

I loved your site! Maybe we are kindred spirits!! You have a beautiful family. We're heading back to WDW in a couple of weeks to use up our tickets from the last trip and then I start plotting to get everyone to MNSSHP 2006! Wish me luck!

We'll be there earlier than you though. Our holiday is October 9th. Happy Planning.

 

[dismom9761]

I loved reading about your MNSSHP experience!Thanks for the tip about the candy.I am taking my kids who will be 10(week away from 11),9,7, and 2 yrs old and my two nieces who will be 9 and 6 yrs old.Can't wait to finish your report.

 

[Cinerama]

This is the first Halloween Party report that makes me REALLy want to go! Thanks so much!

 

[jennymouse]

Loving your trip reports! We did MNSSHP in 2002 and loved it too. You're making me wanna go again!