Sometimes.....you just gotta stop & smell the Sharpie! Sept./Oct. 2015 at AKL ~ Updated 9/25 pg 10

[rndmr2]

Ouch! Sorry about your finger, that does look painful



We were in Philly that weekend visiting my family because it was my B-day weekend, too. When is yours? Mine was the 15th.

Looking forward to the next update whenever you are able to do it.

 

[punkin413]

Aaaahh!! It hurt ME just reading about what you did to your finger I hope it's feeling much better now and I hope you enjoyed your visit with your sister

Thanks. It's still a little wonky-feeling but it's WAY better.

Ouch, your poor finger, you're so lucky you didn't break it. I hope it heals quickly

I know! I couldn't believe I didn't break it either. It's doing better....still bruised but not as bad.

Ouch! Sorry about your finger, that does look painful



We were in Philly that weekend visiting my family because it was my B-day weekend, too. When is yours? Mine was the 15th.

Looking forward to the next update whenever you are able to do it.

Thanks! It's feeling a bit better. My b-day is July 18th. Happy belated birthday!!!!

 

[punkin413]

Okay, update time....finally! Before we get back to the TR, wanted to share some pictures from my little birthday par-tay. It was the big 4-0 for me. My sister, who lives in Boston, flew in for the weekend. On Friday night we went to a local play – one of my very close friends, Jen, was playing the Queen of Hearts and her daughter was playing Alice in Alice in Wonderland, which his one of my VERY favorites! Here is a group of friends there for the show….



Here is Seth and Jen….



And here is Seth and Evey as Alice…



They were both incredible, but I have to say Evey was AMAZING. She had SO many lines – I have no idea how she remembered them all! And she was just in the Cinderella play (the stepsister with the big, blond hair) about a month before this. Such an incredible young woman!

On Saturday several of my other friends got together to celebrate. Jen couldn’t come b/c she was still in the play. We went to a beautiful winery in Dahlonega called Wolf Mountain Winery. Then we rented a villa for the night in downtown Dahlonega and went to dinner, walked around and explored the little shops. It was fun!

Here are a few pics….









They brought a picture of me from my dance team in 9th grade…..



It was really fun and I’m a very lucky girl to have so many great people in my life!

Oh, and tomorrow is Seth’s first day of kindergarten….wish me luck! Yes, we start pretty early but I don’t mind. I work every day anyway so it’s not like I see him more in the summer. Just get to sleep an hour later! Plus we get a lot of breaks – full week for fall break, full week for Thanksgiving break, like 3 weeks at Christmas, full week for spring break, and holidays here and there, and we get out in mid May. So it’s all good!

Okay, back to the TR! We were heading to Adventureland. Not for a ride, but for some new to us….the Pirate’s League! I believe our appointment was around 2:15. Got there right on time and checked in, they showed Seth the choices he had for the makeover and he chose one, then we popped a squat to wait. I knew it would be a few minutes. No big deal. After about 30 minutes of waiting, I was getting a big impatient, and I was starting to notice that people that checked in after us were being called back. I went up to the check-in stand to see what was going on. They told us it shouldn’t be much longer. So back to the bench we went and we kept waiting. Another 10 minutes and nothing. I checked again. They said we’d be next. Then not 1 minute later they called someone else’s name!!!! I’m usually a pretty patient person with this kinda stuff but I was a bit peeved. I then got up and grabbed a different CM to ask, and when I told him what was going on he immediately got us in. Very strange and I have no idea what was going on! It was like 3:05 before we got called back. I don’t hear of this happening a lot, so I think it was a bit of a fluke. But was very frustrating!

First we had to get Seth’s pirate name….

View My Video

View My Video

Chris Warloather?? Um….okay. We’ll go with that!

Next we were taken back to another room to wait. But this time we only waited like 5 minutes or so. We were called to a chair and they started on Seth’s pirate makeover! The woman that did it was really sweet and she did a great job.

Explaining the process…..

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And here we go…..

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Hahaha….those eyebrows!!

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So after he was all done, it was time for the pirate oath….which is kind of a lengthy oath….especially for a 5-year-old!

[URL=http://tinypic.com/m/jj1lcw/2]View My Video

At the end they announce to everyone that there’s a new pirate!

View My Video

Here’s the finished product….



The mustache and the eyebrows crack me up!





After the makeover they had us wait outside a very top secret door. The CM outside the door kept stressing to us how top secret it was. Very hush hush! Finally we were led inside the room and it was a photopass photo op. The photographer was VERY into the pirate thing. Seth was a little freaked out! Here are the pictures…..

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So serious!

It was really cute and I’m glad we did it. The wait was a bit much but I really think that doesn’t happen too often. I haven’t heard many people complain about it so I’m hoping it was a fluke thing.

Afterwards Ray wanted to go get a Dole Whip and Seth decided he wanted to check out the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, so he and I did that while Ray got his treat. Here’s a shot I took from the best view in the park….



It was almost 4:00 and we had big plans that evening so we wanted to head back to take a break. We stopped on the way out and got a couple of castle shots….





Once back at the hotel for a late afternoon break, we got some dinner at The Mara. Seth got his usual chicken tenders and fries, and I got a ham sandwich with the sauce on the side and couscous. They were both good but the couscous was outstanding. Ray just snacked – his stomach still wasn’t quite back to normal yet.

I didn’t take a pic of Seth’s but here’s mine….



I also had a bit of dessert…..



Next update…..a new experience to us, and more pirate fun![/url][/url][/url][URL=http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/punkin41302/media/2nd%20Disney/IMG_8115_zpsk9el3pcz.jpg.html][URL=http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/punkin41302/media/2nd%20Disney/MK_019PIRATES_7487482716_zpsrch9y0wt.jpeg.html][/url][/url][URL=http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/punkin41302/media/2nd%20Disney/IMG_8115_zpsk9el3pcz.jpg.html][URL=http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/punkin41302/media/2nd%20Disney/MK_019PIRATES_7487482716_zpsrch9y0wt.jpeg.html][/url][/url][URL=http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/punkin41302/media/2nd%20Disney/IMG_8115_zpsk9el3pcz.jpg.html][URL=http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/punkin41302/media/2nd%20Disney/MK_019PIRATES_7487482716_zpsrch9y0wt.jpeg.html][/url][/url]

 

[ArielSRL]

Pirate's League looks so fun! I really want the boys to do it but I'm not sure it works out with our touring schedule (midday breaks for resting/swimming). So we will probably skip again this year. But Seth looks awesome! I bet he loved it!

We skipped the Treehouse but I'd like to do it at night so we can get up there and see all the lights!

The birthday events look so fun! Glad you enjoyed the weekend!

Good luck with the first day of K! AJ's first day of Pre-K is the 8th. He's done preschool for 2.5 years but that was really different (along with less days of the week and a shorter day) than what this year will be like. I can't believe he will be 5 in about 2 months.

I'd prefer if we had the school schedule you did. I want more time off during the year compared to longer summers. I need those breaks spread throughout!

 

[vamassey1]

Looks like you had a blast celebrating your big 40. I can really see Seth in your dance picture.
Sorry for the wait for the Pirates League but it looks like Seth enjoyed it. He makes a great pirate. I'm amazed by how much he got into character for those pictures.

 

[DisneyJo]

Awww bless him, Seth makes such a cute pirate and I love how his moustache crinkled in the Castle photo

 

[ariane37]

Your birthday celebration looked so fun!

We did Pirates League a couple years ago, all 4 of us I did the Mermaid Makeover lol. Even though my oldest was almost 12 he still enjoyed it and we all had fun and I got some great pictures! I think Seth looks adorable and the pp pics from the "secret room" came out great.

It's been a few years since we did the Treehouse too, and I don't think I ever took pictures from up there! Boy did I miss out, because that view is gorgeous Your sandwich and couscous from the Mara looks delicious, unfortunately when DH and I stayed there in January we didn't get to try the Mara at all. Another reason I'll have to give him to stay there again lol.

 

[ArielSRL]

I can really see Seth in your dance picture.

I was thinking the exact same thing!

 

[punkin413]

Pirate's League looks so fun! I really want the boys to do it but I'm not sure it works out with our touring schedule (midday breaks for resting/swimming). So we will probably skip again this year. But Seth looks awesome! I bet he loved it!

We skipped the Treehouse but I'd like to do it at night so we can get up there and see all the lights!

The birthday events look so fun! Glad you enjoyed the weekend!

Good luck with the first day of K! AJ's first day of Pre-K is the 8th. He's done preschool for 2.5 years but that was really different (along with less days of the week and a shorter day) than what this year will be like. I can't believe he will be 5 in about 2 months.

I'd prefer if we had the school schedule you did. I want more time off during the year compared to longer summers. I need those breaks spread throughout!

I hadn't done the treehouse in awhile but Seth was begging to see it. He thought it was so cool but didn't like all the steps. First day was great! Pickup line was a bit of a mess but we've since worked that out. Hope your first day of pre-k was good!

I don't mind going back so early because of the breaks we get. It stinks for the moms who don't work during the summer (or at all) because I know it still feels like middle of summer to them. But since I'm at work it makes no difference. And I like having more time with him throughout the year!

Looks like you had a blast celebrating your big 40. I can really see Seth in your dance picture.
Sorry for the wait for the Pirates League but it looks like Seth enjoyed it. He makes a great pirate. I'm amazed by how much he got into character for those pictures.

Seth is a really good mix of Ray and I, I think. My family thinks he's my clone but I see Ray in him too. And yes, Seth was SUPER serious about those pirate pictures!

Awww bless him, Seth makes such a cute pirate and I love how his moustache crinkled in the Castle photo

He loved that mustache! My mom thought those pictures were so funny!

Your birthday celebration looked so fun!

We did Pirates League a couple years ago, all 4 of us I did the Mermaid Makeover lol. Even though my oldest was almost 12 he still enjoyed it and we all had fun and I got some great pictures! I think Seth looks adorable and the pp pics from the "secret room" came out great.

It's been a few years since we did the Treehouse too, and I don't think I ever took pictures from up there! Boy did I miss out, because that view is gorgeous Your sandwich and couscous from the Mara looks delicious, unfortunately when DH and I stayed there in January we didn't get to try the Mara at all. Another reason I'll have to give him to stay there again lol.

It was a cute experience and I'm glad we did it, even if the wait was ridiculous! I always get a picture of that view from the treehouse....it's my favorite view in MK. Now I if I could climb up to the top of the Castle and get a picture from up there, that might be a little better! The couscous was amazing! If you ever stay there again definitely get some. Very yummy!

I was thinking the exact same thing!

I do think he looks like me but he's got tons of Ray in him too. He's a good mix of us both.

 

[punkin413]

Hi guys! Thought I'd find time to do another update tonight.

For those of you who commented that they saw Seth in the dance picture of me from when I was like 14, check this one out. I was 4 (almost 5) here - it was taken at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital when I broke my arm and had to have surgery. That's my Pa and Granny with me. Anyway, to me he looks alot like me in this picture.



Also we survived our first day of kindergarten! It was back on July 29th (we start super early here but have lots of breaks and get out in mid May). So far he likes it but he does miss his friends from last year. Only 1 little girl from his class last year is with him this year. But he's so friendly, so he's making new friends. That's always hard for the little guys!

This is at open house in front of his classroom....



And these are from the first day. They wear uniforms (which I love) so that's why the "plain" attire. I don't even think he needed me to walk him to class but I did anyway!





Can't believe my little dude is in kindergarten!

Okay, back to the trip! When I last left you we had been at MK all day, Seth had gotten a pirate makeover and then we had gone back to the resort for a break. We had something exciting planned for that night...something we had never done before....the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Cruise! We've seen Wishes from the park so many times, I wanted to try something different. And this was something I thought we'd all enjoy!

Wishes was at 9:00 that night and we had to be at the Contemporary Resort and checked in by 7:30. We got there in plenty of time and there was a sign showing us where to go. We got checked in, they gave us our paperwork and our bandannas, and it was explained to us that everyone in the party had to wear a bandanna somewhere on their person so they would know they were with the cruise. Then they told us to have a seat in the waiting area outside the conference room that was reserved for the cruise. They had coloring activities out there for the kids but Seth was more interested in the pirate props!





They let us in the room around 7:40 and told us to help ourselves to the refreshments. I didn't think to get pics of the food....wish I had! There was a ton of it. Coffee, tea, lemonade, water, sodas, cookies, cotton candy, chips and salsa, pretzels, popcorn, and frozen stuff (including Mickey bars) in a freezer. It was nice! Seth was mostly interested in the cotton candy....



After a little while we got a couple of visitors in the room.....Captain Hook and Mr. Smee!! The line formed quickly to meet them. I'm not one to push my way into a line. I usually hang back and then hop in line once the madness has died down. So we just let Seth play with some of the kids he had befriended while we made our way into the line.



This was my one and only complaint with this experience. They were allowing kids to take FOREVER with the characters at first and the line was moving really slowly. About 10 people before us, the CM announced that we needed to be ready to go in 5 minutes. Um....we WILL BE meeting Captain Hook and Mr. Smee!!!! It's not my fault you guys can't manage your time well. Several of the other parents behind me had the same opinion. Luckily we did finally get up there to meet them. But we were cutting it close!







Here are some of the photopass pics.....








Continued in next post: http://www.disboards.com/threads/so...pdated-7-28-pg-9.3491817/page-9#post-56326456

 

[punkin413]

After that they had us gather at the door. I grabbed a coffee to go because I was starting to feel the effects of a day at MK! We met our 2 hosts for the cruise - Patch and Patch. Yes, their names were really Patch and Patch. One group was with Patch on the Captain Hook boat and the other group was with Patch on the Mr. Smee boat. We were with the Captain Hook Patch!



Captain Hook himself led us out to the dock right at 8:30. Here we go!



On the boat and ready to see some Wishes!



Captain Hook was harassing us as we left.





Patch was an excellent host! He was so fun. He went around the boat and met everyone, asking about birthdays and anniversaries and such. Then he sang silly songs and everyone clapped and sang along. Was fun!



The view from where our boat stopped before Wishes started.





The show started at 9:00 and it was so pretty from the water! I loved sitting there and enjoying it and not having to fight a crowd for a viewing spot! A few pics I took......













After the show the boat headed back and we got more songs by Patch. I think he was singing in this picture with Seth!



When we were almost back to the dock, Patch started talking about Peter Pan, and how if the kids closed their eyes and concentrated really hard on wishing that Peter Pan would come see them, maybe their wish would come true. It was really cute.



I didn't get a picture (tried but it was blurry) but of course Peter Pan himself was waiting for us on the dock! We unloaded from the boat and Peter led us back towards the hotel for a meet and greet. Patch gave the kids little toys as they got off and he let Seth pick 2....probably because we weren't being obnoxious and pushing our way off the boat. We are just not those people.

Once we made our way up to the line we were near the end. But I didn't care. That gave the MK crowds time to disperse before we had to head back to AKL. Of course Seth made friends while we waited in line.



I think at this point he was just going on cotton candy fumes.



Finally it was our turn to meet Peter!



He asked him something about why he'd want to be a pirate if he was just turning 5 years old (Seth had his birthday button on). I think Seth just mumbled incoherently in response.





By the time we finished with Peter it was around 10:00 and we were all spent! But the plus with that is we didn't hit after-Wishes traffic on the way back to AKL. We scrubbed off the pirate makeup and hit the hay! Best day so far, in my opinion!

Next update.....a much-needed "no park" day!

 

[ArielSRL]

Wow...looks like such a fun time! I would love to do it, just not sure it's in the cards this trip. I love the meet and greets and all the food. Good view...different, but still good!

It's so crazy how long the kids last at Disney! My boys lasted pretty much every night - with naps thrown in at odd times throughout the day...lol - but crashed either on the way back or, usually, right when we got back to SSR.

Glad you got an update in. I'm having so much trouble with mine solely bc of (multiple) computer problems. Hoping I can get it fixed soon.

Looking forward to more!

 

[LISAMWDW]

That cruise looked so fun!! I may have to add on my to do list now! Seth is just too cute!

 

[glennbo123]

Wow, you're right -- there's an unbelievable resemblance between you and Seth in that picture of you from when you broke your arm.

I'm glad that he had so much fun being a pirate for the day. Looked like a great day.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Soooooo first of all glad I found this. Secondly....i have been following your trips for a longer time than i thought as Seth wasnt in all your trip reports....and now I just read that he is 5?! What?! Time.....flies too fast....
Meanwhile sorry I am late to the party. Getting ready to read!!!!!

 

[rndmr2]

Fun update!! The Pirates cruise sounds like a lot of fun, definitely a great way to see the fireworks without huge crowds.

Glad he is liking school so far.

 

[ariane37]

Love the review of the Pirates and Pals Cruise and the pictures I do like the idea of watching Wishes without the crowd; we watched from the Poly beach once and it was fantastic. So were there any adult parties on the cruise sans kids or parties with only kids over say, 12? I know my boys wouldn't actually ask to do this and would probably complain if I told them I booked it lol, but would then most likely enjoy it once there. But they'd probably feel more comfortable, especially DS14, if there were older kids on it. Which you can never guarantee I know but curious about your experience.

 

[micandminforever]

Your pictures wanted me to sign right up for the pirate criuse.

 

[punkin413]

Sorry, guys....I'm still here! Just been so super busy lately. Seth had a birthday recently and work has been insane. And we are going to the beach in 2 weeks for fall break (thank goodness) so I've been planning for that. Anyway, update soon....promise!

 

[ariane37]

Sorry, guys....I'm still here! Just been so super busy lately. Seth had a birthday recently and work has been insane. And we are going to the beach in 2 weeks for fall break (thank goodness) so I've been planning for that. Anyway, update soon....promise!

I just have to say I find it so funny people are coming up on their fall break-my kids have been in school a total of 9 days so far