Growin'upDisney
<font color=blue>I've been to Disney since I was k
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2003
- Messages
- 964
Cast of Characters
Me = Tausha
DH = Chris aka Panda
DM = Julie(my mom)
DSF = Erick(my stepfather) aka Dude
OK So I didnt really bring a whistle. But here started the introduction to delswife and certain aspects of her now world-famous trip report. While still rubbing the sleep out of our eyes after Mickeys wake-up call I proceeded to tell a little bit about the adventure of delswife and her crew. I had printed out the entire trip report all 156 pages (Thanks Robin for sending it to me in word) so I could interject highlights to my family along the way. So this morning they learned the story of Commando Nikki and her Energizer whistle. You know just keeps going and going. Everyone laughed and thanked me for not bringing a whistle and promised they would jump out of bed every morning when Mickey called.
So after getting ready and breakfast in the concierge we were off to the Animal Kingdom.
Based on reliable DIS information we decided to take the rental car. Right again. Parked fairly close and caught the tram to the entrance. We had missed park opening which wasnt my intention, but we all needed the extra sleep so I let reality win over the perfectly planned Worksheet. I figured I would get them back on track later in the day yeah right!!
As we headed to the entrance Timon and Rafiki were outside in front of Pride Rock with Simba standing on the ledge. There was a huge sign promoting the new straight to video release of The Lion King 1½. DM made a b-line toward them and informed us she wanted her picture. What could we do but wait. And wait. And wait. Until she was about 5 from the front when the handler said they would be taking a break for a little while and to come back. I think DM was more crushed than the 20 or so kids waiting in line.
DM: Did you know I am most like Nala?
US: Yes we know.
DM: They could have waited 5 more minutes.
ME: Meanwhile the CM inside is dying of heat stroke and dehydration.
Side Note For any of you who plan to visit Disneys California Adventure you should know that as part of their Animation experience there is a room where you can play with a touch screen and it will ask you a series of questions. Based on your answers they let you know You are most like.. a particular character from one of Disneys animated films. I am most like the Queen of Hearts, DH is most like Woody, I forgot who Dude is most like, and then of course when mom enters her answers the result is that she is most like Nala. In her mind it completely solidified her love of all things Lion King.
And it made the rest of us wish we had never wandered to that part of the building and found these screens. Three years later and she still reminds of this fact. But I digress.
After we consoled her we headed into the park and straight toward Kilimanjaro Safari. I love this ride and couldnt wait for DH to experience it. We saw quite a few animals including the cutest baby elephant. We had several giraffes jump in front of the vehicles to get to food on the other side of the road. DH took lots of pictures and in the end we were able to help save Baby Red. I am truly awed by the care and effort Disney took in building such an animal preserve. Their conservation work is to be admired.
We then walked along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and enjoyed the various animals.
After we finished here we ventured on to the first of many, many, many pin carts and many, many, many, many more bathroom stops (more on this in a moment). DH and I both wanted lanyards to hold our room key/park ticket. We spotted a few types at the pin station. And we each bought a few pins to adorn them with. Here is where I explained the concept of pin trading to DH and that every CM wore a lanyard and had to trade with you if you asked. Little did I know I was creating a trade-crazed, pin-seeking Panda. I think after this point we hit every pin station in every park the rest of the week. He would run after CMs to get a look at their lanyards. And heaven forbid if their lanyard was under their jacket because it was 40 degrees outside and they were freezing. He wanted to see what they had. I think several female CMs thought he was looking at their chests as we strolled by. On several occasions I was tempted to shout, Dont worry hes not a pervert, he just wants to see your pins!! Actually we had fun with it all week and got some really cool pins as a result.
A word about bathrooms when you travel with my mom you must know two things.
1) Her Kiara, a corduroy change purse with a picture of Simbas daughter Kiara, will always have an endless supply of money in it (as if like magic) and;
2) You will, without a doubt, become familiar with the location of just about every bathroom on the property. Its not her fault, I understand, its a matter of biology. I think DHs pin obsession was used to offset the time we waited for DM to use the bathroom. ( Love you mom, I mean it!!)
Back to the park. We headed to Dinoland and rode stuff there. Nothing too exciting. And we shopped for pins and Lion King stuff. Big surprise.
I consulted my Worksheet and thats when I realized
Me = Tausha
DH = Chris aka Panda
DM = Julie(my mom)
DSF = Erick(my stepfather) aka Dude
OK So I didnt really bring a whistle. But here started the introduction to delswife and certain aspects of her now world-famous trip report. While still rubbing the sleep out of our eyes after Mickeys wake-up call I proceeded to tell a little bit about the adventure of delswife and her crew. I had printed out the entire trip report all 156 pages (Thanks Robin for sending it to me in word) so I could interject highlights to my family along the way. So this morning they learned the story of Commando Nikki and her Energizer whistle. You know just keeps going and going. Everyone laughed and thanked me for not bringing a whistle and promised they would jump out of bed every morning when Mickey called.
So after getting ready and breakfast in the concierge we were off to the Animal Kingdom.
Based on reliable DIS information we decided to take the rental car. Right again. Parked fairly close and caught the tram to the entrance. We had missed park opening which wasnt my intention, but we all needed the extra sleep so I let reality win over the perfectly planned Worksheet. I figured I would get them back on track later in the day yeah right!!
As we headed to the entrance Timon and Rafiki were outside in front of Pride Rock with Simba standing on the ledge. There was a huge sign promoting the new straight to video release of The Lion King 1½. DM made a b-line toward them and informed us she wanted her picture. What could we do but wait. And wait. And wait. Until she was about 5 from the front when the handler said they would be taking a break for a little while and to come back. I think DM was more crushed than the 20 or so kids waiting in line.
DM: Did you know I am most like Nala?
US: Yes we know.
DM: They could have waited 5 more minutes.
ME: Meanwhile the CM inside is dying of heat stroke and dehydration.
Side Note For any of you who plan to visit Disneys California Adventure you should know that as part of their Animation experience there is a room where you can play with a touch screen and it will ask you a series of questions. Based on your answers they let you know You are most like.. a particular character from one of Disneys animated films. I am most like the Queen of Hearts, DH is most like Woody, I forgot who Dude is most like, and then of course when mom enters her answers the result is that she is most like Nala. In her mind it completely solidified her love of all things Lion King.
And it made the rest of us wish we had never wandered to that part of the building and found these screens. Three years later and she still reminds of this fact. But I digress.
After we consoled her we headed into the park and straight toward Kilimanjaro Safari. I love this ride and couldnt wait for DH to experience it. We saw quite a few animals including the cutest baby elephant. We had several giraffes jump in front of the vehicles to get to food on the other side of the road. DH took lots of pictures and in the end we were able to help save Baby Red. I am truly awed by the care and effort Disney took in building such an animal preserve. Their conservation work is to be admired.
We then walked along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and enjoyed the various animals.
After we finished here we ventured on to the first of many, many, many pin carts and many, many, many, many more bathroom stops (more on this in a moment). DH and I both wanted lanyards to hold our room key/park ticket. We spotted a few types at the pin station. And we each bought a few pins to adorn them with. Here is where I explained the concept of pin trading to DH and that every CM wore a lanyard and had to trade with you if you asked. Little did I know I was creating a trade-crazed, pin-seeking Panda. I think after this point we hit every pin station in every park the rest of the week. He would run after CMs to get a look at their lanyards. And heaven forbid if their lanyard was under their jacket because it was 40 degrees outside and they were freezing. He wanted to see what they had. I think several female CMs thought he was looking at their chests as we strolled by. On several occasions I was tempted to shout, Dont worry hes not a pervert, he just wants to see your pins!! Actually we had fun with it all week and got some really cool pins as a result.
A word about bathrooms when you travel with my mom you must know two things.
1) Her Kiara, a corduroy change purse with a picture of Simbas daughter Kiara, will always have an endless supply of money in it (as if like magic) and;
2) You will, without a doubt, become familiar with the location of just about every bathroom on the property. Its not her fault, I understand, its a matter of biology. I think DHs pin obsession was used to offset the time we waited for DM to use the bathroom. ( Love you mom, I mean it!!)
Back to the park. We headed to Dinoland and rode stuff there. Nothing too exciting. And we shopped for pins and Lion King stuff. Big surprise.
I consulted my Worksheet and thats when I realized
She & Dad are those unique Bay Area residents who bought their house in the 70's, paid it off and now are sitting pretty making big bucks with no big payments so to speak....I'm a former San Jose resident.
