Photo Trip Report: My 6 and 4 year-old park commandos -- How we conquered the World!

[jake&samsmom]

We grab our soggy stroller and walk towards VOTLM.

Now you see, Ariel is my favorite princess for all the following reasons:
1) She is headstrong and stubborn (like me)
2) She has a beautiful singing voice that sounds like mine (though I can do a dead-on impersonation of Ursula when the mood strikes me )
3) She is a water-lover (like me and my boys)

I first met Ariel in person at DL in 1996. I was the only big princess in the queue to meet Ariel. When it was my turn I walked shyly up to her and told her, "I've been waiting all my life to meet you..." She gave me a dazzling smile, and we took a picture together. That will always be one of my fondest vacation memories, and gives me a lump in my throat everytime I remember it. All right, I confess, I am a very sentimental gal...as further proof, I saw Titanic 48 times, and cried at the end of each of them...but I digress....)

When we enter the theater, there are few open seats. I see two empty seats side by side on the end of the middle row. I seat the boys there, and I find a seat a few rows behind them.

Here are some of my favorite moments from the show:

I love how the laser lighting makes it appear as though the audience is underwater. I am amazed at how gently the rain falls on all of us inside the theater. I laugh at how clever the neon fishes "swim" under the sea. I love the show, and I tell the boys we'll come back later in the day to watch it (the boys groan, "again!?")

 

[jake&samsmom]

Great trip report and fantastic photo's , thankyou sooo much for sharing your experience's with us

You are so welcome. I am getting sad that I only have 1 1/2 days more to report on But there's always the next trip!

 

[jake&samsmom]

Maybe I will do a TR when we get back, I'm not very good at this stuff but i will probably try. I know I am starting to get butterflies already and my DD4 is beside herself. The worst part: we're driving from St. Louis (15 1/2 hours).

From Houston to WDW is roughly the same distance/time. I look at it this way, more time to bond with each other, and more sights to see ....Are y'all taking a sleep break, or driving all the way? Make sure you bring lots of dvd's and snacks/drinks. Those are the top requirements of the boys. The longest we've driven as a family was to New Orleans for Mardi Gras in 2007. It took us 7 hours, I think. I enjoyed it, but I didn't drive, DH did.

 

[The4bits]

From Houston to WDW is roughly the same distance/time. I look at it this way, more time to bond with each other, and more sights to see ....Are y'all taking a sleep break, or driving all the way? Make sure you bring lots of dvd's and snacks/drinks. Those are the top requirements of the boys. The longest we've driven as a family was to New Orleans for Mardi Gras in 2007. It took us 7 hours, I think. I enjoyed it, but I didn't drive, DH did.

We are staying in Valdosta, GA - 3 hours outside of Orlando so we won't arrive in Disney world until Wednesday. We have a HUGE bag of snacks, a container full of movies for our dvd player in the van and two backpacks full of surprises. This will be the farthest we have ever driven too. I just can't wait to start the whole thing. It's funny I can't seem to get off the DIS boards today. Must be the excitement.

 

[jake&samsmom]

We are staying in Valdosta, GA - 3 hours outside of Orlando so we won't arrive in Disney world until Wednesday. We have a HUGE bag of snacks, a container full of movies for our dvd player in the van and two backpacks full of surprises. This will be the farthest we have ever driven too. I just can't wait to start the whole thing. It's funny I can't seem to get off the DIS boards today. Must be the excitement.

The first trip is always the most exciting, and you will collect plenty of precious and unforgettable memories. I remember being such a DIS addict when I planned for this trip, DH joked about who my BF was online. I replied, "Mickey, who else!"

 

[Nicole786]

awww i love ToT!!! My brother doesn't do thrill rides...im going to attempt Expedition Everest this time but ToT would be reaaalllly pushing it

 

[jake&samsmom]

We now walk towards The Great Movie Ride.

While waiting in line, DH rings me on the cell phone asking the same question again, where do we eat? I tell him to try to meet us at TGMR if he could make it. Meanwhile, as we approach the the ride vehicle, I hear a piercing crying sound coming from the pre-show area....

It sounded just like Sam! Turns out, it was him!

Sam had stayed in one spot, staring at the screen showing movie clips - so that when he turned to look for us, we were gone! He thought Jake and I had left him behind! The line moved very quickly, and with me on the phone with DH, I just assumed Sam was tagging along beside Jake.

I run to get Sam, and apologize to him for not paying better attention. I get some dirty stares from other parents who saw what just took place I try my best to be a good parent, honest!

Thankfully, the ride begins:

The children get scared during the "Aliens" part. I didn't like the part that had a lot of snakes

But overall, we liked the ride, especially when the gangster suffered the consequence of the "curse"

After the ride, DH meets up with us by the Socerer's Hat. We walk together towards 50's Primetime Cafe for lunch.

 

[snowwhite325]

You aren't the only one who cries at the end of Titanic Everytime I watch it by best friend makes fun of me...but when they end up together at the end...my heart melts just thinking about it

 

[jake&samsmom]

We are ushered to our table by "cousin" Monica. The boys are lent old-style viewmasters to "see" the dessert menu. We all order milkshakes. And funny enough, everyone ordered the meatloaf!

A tall glass of chocolate milkshake is enough to make one smile this big:

Look at the old-school TV above Jake and DH:

Jake busy coloring the children's menu:

The meatloaf was yummy, and they gave huge portions. Everone finished their food quickly because we didn't want to be late for our favorite part of DS-MGM: the Jedi Training Academy!

We want to skip dessert, but our "cousin" insists that we take it to go. Jake and DH rush towards the Star Tours section of the park; Sam and I wait for our packed dessert, and run after them!

 

[jake&samsmom]

You aren't the only one who cries at the end of Titanic Everytime I watch it by best friend makes fun of me...but when they end up together at the end...my heart melts just thinking about it

A confession: For a very long time after Titanic came out, I was madly in love with Leonardo DiCaprio!

 

[jake&samsmom]

Because of the DIS, I came up with a few tricks to increase the probability of Jake and Sam being chosen for Jedi Training:

1) Wear a Star Wars Shirt (check)
2) Stand in the very front of the stage (check)
3) Bring a poster/sign to appeal to the Jedi Master's heart (check: Ours said, "Please choose me - I am strong with the Force!) I even decorated it with LGMH's from Home Depot!

One thing we couldn't control was the rain, and oh did it rain while we waited in front of the stage! I overheard a few people say that the earlier shows were cancelled because of the downpour. We stay hopeful, though. (btw, while waiting, Sam decides he doesn't want to hold up his sign, and that he doesn't want to be a Jedi afterall. I tell him it's OK.)

To better portray the next set of events, please read my entry to Disney's Favorite Vacation Moments Contest:

JAKE THE JEDI​

"Nothing will ever top our first family vacation to Walt Disney World in 2007.

Several months earlier, we were in Disneyland watching kids onstage for the Jedi Training Academy. My son Jake was crestfallen that he was not called to be one of them.

Then we saved enough to go to Disney World for Jake's 7th Birthday -- my son would have another chance at Jedi Training! This time we came prepared. Jake wore his favorite Star Wars t-shirt and stood directly in front of the stage.

The "Master" then came out to survey the gathering of children aspiring to be Jedis....

Jake was the first one chosen!

I will always remember the look of sheer delight in his eyes. He had the brightest smile of all as he brandished his lightsaber. Most unforgettable was his triumphant shout after he battled with and defeated the ultimate villain, Darth Vader.

This is why we go on family vacations. To create enduring memories. To remind us how precious time spent together really is.

Disney World is in Florida, but it now also exists right here in Texas....indelibly etched in this one mother's heart."

 

[jake&samsmom]

We are all giddy with happiness and pride at Jakob being chosen for the Jedi Training Academy. You see, I am a huge Star Wars fanatic! I am the one who leaves DH and the boys at home at midnight to see the final three Star Wars trilogy! I own hundreds of Star Wars vehicles/ships, and a thousand or so action figures (yep, you read right...my collection continues to multiply with time ) -- we actually had to rent a climate controlled storage space exclusively for my collection because were were running out of house (and also to keep them safe from the boys).

The boys frequently ask if I can share the collection with them. I reply, "When you turn 21, I will."

So, Star Tours is a must-see for our family.

Here we are about to board:

Cool ride, as usual! Plus, we got to sit in the very first row



Up Next: More DS-MGM touring, broken umbrellas, and a Fantasmic show!

 

[Nicole786]

So cool Jake got to be in the academy!! I definitely need to have children ASAP so I can take them disney

 

[jake&samsmom]

So cool Jake got to be in the academy!! I definitely need to have children ASAP so I can take them disney

Hi Nicole!
I swear, I was so excited that he got chosen, I felt like I was the one dueling with Vader! I ducked when Jake ducked, I swung when he swung. It was funny when I realized how strange that must have looked to the others! LOL!

Seeing the World through the boys' eyes was a whole new experience -- I think everyone should go to Disney at least 4 times in a lifetime (note that I said "at least" ) : the 1st time, as a child; the 2nd time, as a young adult; the 3rd time, with your own children; and if God wills it, a 4th time with your Grandkids

 

[jake&samsmom]

We head to Muppets 3D, and walked on in. The theater was half-full so we could choose our seats

It was a cute show, but I did not enjoy it as much as Philharmagic. The boys liked it enough, and were laughing throughout the show.

We were going to see the parade next, but I'm pretty sure they cancelled it that day because of the rain. At this point, the boys were all paraded-out anyhow. We decide to skip it.

So we walk to the Indiana Jones Stunt show which was about to start in 15 mins. The theater barely had any audience, the rain probably sent folks home

I ask the boys to pose while we wait for the show to start:

I try to get Jake to smile, but:

Jake is tired, and makes those "mad" faces. Sam is still holding up.

The show is abbreviated because of the wet ground. The performers' safety is priority of course, so they didn't do the really dangerous stunts.

On the way out, we try to catch the HSM pep rally, but hear an announcement that it is cancelled! By this time we are too late to catch the Lights, Motors, Action show, so finally, I get to do another girlie thing today -- see Beauty and the Beast on stage

 

[kath1210]

Wow! You are sure making up for lost time! I am really enjoying all of your posts!

I swear, those pictures of the boys in your last post look exactly alike!!

ETA: Oops! Now I see Jake in the background! LOL! I guess I'd better get to bed!!

 

[jake&samsmom]

Wow! You are sure making up for lost time! I am really enjoying all of your posts!

I swear, those pictures of the boys in your last post look exactly alike!!

ETA: Oops! Now I see Jake in the background! LOL! I guess I'd better get to bed!!

It's OK, Kath, I just edited it now to make it less confusing

 

[kkwis2]

Thank you for being so sweet Your kids are about the same ages as mine...Is your October trip your kids' first WDW vacation? I know for sure they will enjoy it, what with the nice weather, less crowds, and very short lines for rides.

We took the kids to WDW in March of 2006. The kids were 2 and 4. We only went for 4 nights so it was a quick trip but we had a great time. How can you not, right?! I am really hoping for a magical trip this time since the kids will be older and we are going for a full week. I hope my kids will be daring enough to do some of the "big kid" rides. I am amazed that even your 4 year old will do it all! My son would never have done those the last time. I just love rides, though, so I hope we can talk them into at least some of them.

We are planning to do MNSSHP so I was glad to read your report about that. Everyone has such great things to say about it. I'm so excited! You found it to be not terribly crowded, right?

It looks like it rained more than I was expecting for that time of year. At least now I will know to plan for that with ponchos and umbrellas.

 

[jake&samsmom]

Thank you for being so sweet Your kids are about the same ages as mine...Is your October trip your kids' first WDW vacation? I know for sure they will enjoy it, what with the nice weather, less crowds, and very short lines for rides.

We took the kids to WDW in March of 2006. The kids were 2 and 4. We only went for 4 nights so it was a quick trip but we had a great time. How can you not, right?! I am really hoping for a magical trip this time since the kids will be older and we are going for a full week. I hope my kids will be daring enough to do some of the "big kid" rides. I am amazed that even your 4 year old will do it all! My son would never have done those the last time. I just love rides, though, so I hope we can talk them into at least some of them.

We are planning to do MNSSHP so I was glad to read your report about that. Everyone has such great things to say about it. I'm so excited! You found it to be not terribly crowded, right?

It looks like it rained more than I was expecting for that time of year. At least now I will know to plan for that with ponchos and umbrellas.

What night are you doing MNSSHP? We went on a night when the tickets were discounted (did they still offer a discount on a few select nights this year?) and I was apprehensive that it would be crowded. But it wasn't at all, except for the parade route. Make sure you stake your spot early (I would recommend an hour before the parade starts to get front row/curbside seating esp. for the little ones.

It was so hard to decide if we'd focus on trick or treating, rides, or on the parade and fireworks. But in the end, everything fell into place and we were able to compromise with each other and do a little of each.

One thing I wished we could have done was to attend the Dance Parties...Again, the boys were not very interested to do that, so we didn't.

Rain was not bad until the last day at DS-MGM. Other days it was just a very light intermittent drizzle. I budgeted 4 ponchos per day (the cheapie Walmart ones), and came back home to Texas with 11 left-over ponchos out of 20! On the other hand, we had 4 umbrellas, and came back with 2. More about that later.....

 

[jake&samsmom]

I have seen BB on Broadway twice, and absolutely adore it! (Btw, one more "about me" fact: I am a big fan of Musicals! I have seen plenty of them (not just Disney) and love Lion King on Broadway the best! Wicked comes a close second. OK, I digress again....)

We get seats towards the back of the theater because this show is moderately full. It's a good view, however, plus it allowed DH to sneak away to get snacks without disturbing other people.

The costumes are so pretty, and the actors sing well. I love Chip and Mrs. Potts. The boys think Lumniere and Cogsworth are hilarious!

After the show, I tell the boys we're heading back to VOTLM. DH says nope, he's riding RnR coaster via the single rider line. I ask him to pose with the boys in front of Mickey's Sorcerer hat before we split up so I can get a good day shot of them together.

The little boys protest about going to see Ariel again, but have no choice as they are a few inches short of the height requirement for RnR