GrammieMame
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- Joined
- Jan 6, 2000
- Messages
- 640
We Are: Myself, Mother of Lynn and proud Grammie of Wade (just turned 8) and Tyler (just turned 5).
Wednesday 27: Wake-up call from Mickey at 6:45. MK opening time is 8:30, and I wanted to be there at 8:00 sharp. The boats dont start running until 8:00, so I planned to take the bus, but we just missed one and found from the attendant that they dont go directly to MK, but to the TCC where you have to switch to the monorail. I cant imagine why they do this, when every other bus goes directly to it destination. We decided to go for the boat after all, and were right on front of the line. It left at 8:00 and we were actually at the park at 8:10. They opened the gates while we were in the security lines, which was great since it didnt create a huge logjam at the entrance. The lines actually didnt seem too intimidating at all, although I really miss EE and feel that not having it diminished are ability to do a lot in a short period of time without feeling harried. We were actually at the rope for the opening to MK about 10 minutes before the 8:30 opening. There are a couple of CMs at the rope making announcements that only the first line of people can hear, since their message is drowned out by the music. When the rope dropped, we went directly to Dumbo and were on the second round of riding it. Then went directly to Pooh where we got on right away. After that, we went to Peter Pan where we again got on very quickly and then did Small World & the Carousel. Right before Peter Pan, I had gone over to Haunted Mansion and gotten a FP for 10:30. We had a 9:40 PS for the Cinderella Breakfast. I didnt really think the boys would enjoy it all that much, but had never done it and figured Lynn and I would like to do it, at least once. We got there at 9:30 and were seated about 10:00. This was the kids first character encounter for this trip, and they really werent all that interested in meeting Aladdin in the waiting area. I finally enticed Wade to get in the picture so Tyler could take it, so he took a short of me & Aladdin & Wade , then mom came over to get another one (just in case he cut off our heads). We really enjoyed eating in the Castle. the theming is great, and we thought the breakfast was delicious. Lynn has successfully been fighting the urge to eat wonderful (ie. fattening) food, but caved at this one and cleaned her plate. Aurora (from Sleeping Beauty, which we didnt know), Snow White and the prince, Cinderella and Mary Poppins came over to say hello. Mary Poppins was by far the biggest hit. We were wondering before she came if she would be able to spell supercalifragilisticexpealidocious (?) correctly and especially to say it backwards. Lynn bet not, I felt sure she would be able to do it. When challenged, she rose to the occasion and did it so easily that Wade was tremendously impressed and enjoyed that encounter. By the time we left the Castle, it was about 11:00 and halfway into the Haunted Mansion FP time. Actually, the Haunted Mansion line was only 20 minutes, and Im not sure a FP is even needed here (same thing happened on another recent trip). Tyler didnt want to do this and was crying, but we hauled him on it anyhow, and he hated it. I felt so guilty about it, but once you are in line its hard to turn around. Wade liked the visuals, but thought the noises were way too loud and covered his ears. We promised Ty he would never have to go on it again unless he wanted to. I had run over before getting in HM and gotten a FP for Big Thunder Mountain for 12:50 1:50. We got there about 10 minutes early. By this time, it was getting very very crowded and very very hot. We checked in at exactly 12:50 and were on the ride by 1:00. Wade & Tyler both loved this ride. At this point, we were ready to leave, but I thought I would check the Splash Mountain FP time just for curiosity. We planned to come back that night, and sure enough the FP time was 5:30 to 6:30 (and this was at 1:00). One more stop on the way out. Lynn had been saving the boys hair to be cut in the barbershop, and we decided to go ahead and do it now. There was a very nice Hispanic woman named Marta doing the honors, and only a few people waiting. Wade went first and asked for a buzz cut, which he had had before in Co. I could see Lynns look of alarm as that razor kept cutting closer and closer. A CO buzz cut still leaves some hair and some on top that can be spiked a little, but Wade pretty much ended up with a shaved head. But along the way, she left the top longer and put on red gel and spiked it up into a mohawk. Wade was in hysterics (laughter that is) and we threatened to leave it that say (but didnt, of course). We dont want to tell him, because hes so sensitive about the way he looks, but we really dont like that hair. It will grow, of course. Tyler was set on spiky and blue and his turned out way better. Spikey and blue indeed, and topped with pixie dust (which he didnt like). The blue stuff was like glue, though, and it took a couple of days to get it all out. We didnt get back to the room until 3:00 and we are supposed to be back for our 5:30 FP Down to bed immediately for a nap.
Back to MK that night for a 5:50 Liberty Tree Dinner, the strategy being to step out and get a prime place for the parade right across the street. The problem is that we had a FP for 5:30 6:30 for Splash Mountain that we really wanted to use. We got to SM about 5:30 and Lynn went down to Liberty Tree to check us in. I was hoping we would be done in time to get there before they called our name to be seated. Wade & I gave our extra two FPs to a man and his son who were overjoyed to have them, since the wait time was 2 hours. We went right on through and directly on the ride, which is Wades very favorite. Actually, we were out by about 6:15 and rushed over to Liberty Tree for our dinner. It turns out that if one person in a party checks in, they will put your card aside and will hold your place until the rest of your party gets there. Thats a really good thing to know. In this case, we were only ½ hour late, but the same thing happened the following week when we had 7 people and were almost an hour late. The dinner was good and the character interaction OK. We didnt have autograph books this time, and the characters come by and do a little interaction, getting a picture, and move on pretty quickly. I think this will probably be the last time we will go for character dinners unless they come up with something different. We got out of our dinner about 7:30 and there were still a couple of seats at my favorite parade viewing area across the street from Liberty Tree. Got Wade and Tyler a couple of spinny-light thingees and waited for the parade to pass by. Lynns not much of a parade person, but this one is so spectacular that I think everyone should see it at least once.
Wednesday 27: Wake-up call from Mickey at 6:45. MK opening time is 8:30, and I wanted to be there at 8:00 sharp. The boats dont start running until 8:00, so I planned to take the bus, but we just missed one and found from the attendant that they dont go directly to MK, but to the TCC where you have to switch to the monorail. I cant imagine why they do this, when every other bus goes directly to it destination. We decided to go for the boat after all, and were right on front of the line. It left at 8:00 and we were actually at the park at 8:10. They opened the gates while we were in the security lines, which was great since it didnt create a huge logjam at the entrance. The lines actually didnt seem too intimidating at all, although I really miss EE and feel that not having it diminished are ability to do a lot in a short period of time without feeling harried. We were actually at the rope for the opening to MK about 10 minutes before the 8:30 opening. There are a couple of CMs at the rope making announcements that only the first line of people can hear, since their message is drowned out by the music. When the rope dropped, we went directly to Dumbo and were on the second round of riding it. Then went directly to Pooh where we got on right away. After that, we went to Peter Pan where we again got on very quickly and then did Small World & the Carousel. Right before Peter Pan, I had gone over to Haunted Mansion and gotten a FP for 10:30. We had a 9:40 PS for the Cinderella Breakfast. I didnt really think the boys would enjoy it all that much, but had never done it and figured Lynn and I would like to do it, at least once. We got there at 9:30 and were seated about 10:00. This was the kids first character encounter for this trip, and they really werent all that interested in meeting Aladdin in the waiting area. I finally enticed Wade to get in the picture so Tyler could take it, so he took a short of me & Aladdin & Wade , then mom came over to get another one (just in case he cut off our heads). We really enjoyed eating in the Castle. the theming is great, and we thought the breakfast was delicious. Lynn has successfully been fighting the urge to eat wonderful (ie. fattening) food, but caved at this one and cleaned her plate. Aurora (from Sleeping Beauty, which we didnt know), Snow White and the prince, Cinderella and Mary Poppins came over to say hello. Mary Poppins was by far the biggest hit. We were wondering before she came if she would be able to spell supercalifragilisticexpealidocious (?) correctly and especially to say it backwards. Lynn bet not, I felt sure she would be able to do it. When challenged, she rose to the occasion and did it so easily that Wade was tremendously impressed and enjoyed that encounter. By the time we left the Castle, it was about 11:00 and halfway into the Haunted Mansion FP time. Actually, the Haunted Mansion line was only 20 minutes, and Im not sure a FP is even needed here (same thing happened on another recent trip). Tyler didnt want to do this and was crying, but we hauled him on it anyhow, and he hated it. I felt so guilty about it, but once you are in line its hard to turn around. Wade liked the visuals, but thought the noises were way too loud and covered his ears. We promised Ty he would never have to go on it again unless he wanted to. I had run over before getting in HM and gotten a FP for Big Thunder Mountain for 12:50 1:50. We got there about 10 minutes early. By this time, it was getting very very crowded and very very hot. We checked in at exactly 12:50 and were on the ride by 1:00. Wade & Tyler both loved this ride. At this point, we were ready to leave, but I thought I would check the Splash Mountain FP time just for curiosity. We planned to come back that night, and sure enough the FP time was 5:30 to 6:30 (and this was at 1:00). One more stop on the way out. Lynn had been saving the boys hair to be cut in the barbershop, and we decided to go ahead and do it now. There was a very nice Hispanic woman named Marta doing the honors, and only a few people waiting. Wade went first and asked for a buzz cut, which he had had before in Co. I could see Lynns look of alarm as that razor kept cutting closer and closer. A CO buzz cut still leaves some hair and some on top that can be spiked a little, but Wade pretty much ended up with a shaved head. But along the way, she left the top longer and put on red gel and spiked it up into a mohawk. Wade was in hysterics (laughter that is) and we threatened to leave it that say (but didnt, of course). We dont want to tell him, because hes so sensitive about the way he looks, but we really dont like that hair. It will grow, of course. Tyler was set on spiky and blue and his turned out way better. Spikey and blue indeed, and topped with pixie dust (which he didnt like). The blue stuff was like glue, though, and it took a couple of days to get it all out. We didnt get back to the room until 3:00 and we are supposed to be back for our 5:30 FP Down to bed immediately for a nap.
Back to MK that night for a 5:50 Liberty Tree Dinner, the strategy being to step out and get a prime place for the parade right across the street. The problem is that we had a FP for 5:30 6:30 for Splash Mountain that we really wanted to use. We got to SM about 5:30 and Lynn went down to Liberty Tree to check us in. I was hoping we would be done in time to get there before they called our name to be seated. Wade & I gave our extra two FPs to a man and his son who were overjoyed to have them, since the wait time was 2 hours. We went right on through and directly on the ride, which is Wades very favorite. Actually, we were out by about 6:15 and rushed over to Liberty Tree for our dinner. It turns out that if one person in a party checks in, they will put your card aside and will hold your place until the rest of your party gets there. Thats a really good thing to know. In this case, we were only ½ hour late, but the same thing happened the following week when we had 7 people and were almost an hour late. The dinner was good and the character interaction OK. We didnt have autograph books this time, and the characters come by and do a little interaction, getting a picture, and move on pretty quickly. I think this will probably be the last time we will go for character dinners unless they come up with something different. We got out of our dinner about 7:30 and there were still a couple of seats at my favorite parade viewing area across the street from Liberty Tree. Got Wade and Tyler a couple of spinny-light thingees and waited for the parade to pass by. Lynns not much of a parade person, but this one is so spectacular that I think everyone should see it at least once.
