THAT WAS TOTALLY WICKED!!! The Incredible(s) Trip to Disney
- Thread starter LegoMom3
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LegoMom3
WDW vet now exploring "Walt's Park!"
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 10,461
The pool on Ol' Man Island at Port Orleans Riverside is really great. If it had a sandy bottom, it might remind me of the old River Country water park. It almost has an ol' swimmin' hole feel to it. Minus the sandy bottom of course, but also minus the muck and all the other creepy unknowns that inhabit water that you can't see the bottom of. Which is why I 100% prefer swimming in a pool over swimming in a lake. And coming from New Hampshire, I'll tell you there's no better way to spend a hot summer day (rare as they may be...) than hanging out by a northern lake...smelling the pine boughs warmed by the sun, feeling the sweet breeze off the water, and hearing a loon cry in the distance. But as for swimming, I won't wade in much deeper than my waist. Once the bottom becomes inky black, I'm out. No deal.
And hardly anyone up here has a big ol' in-ground pool, so coming to Florida and swimming at our Disney resort is about as good as it gets without actually going to the parks! I'm fairly certain that we could come to Disney, spend a week, never do the parks, and if the bulk of the day was spent in the pool, my kids wouldn't raise the slightest complaint. Case in point: on a daily basis, we would head out for one of the four theme parks at opening, do a boatload of super-cool Disney stuff, and by early afternoon, the battle cry from the troops was inevitably “I want to go back to the resort and swim!” On the other hand, having spent 2 or even 3 hours in said pool, when the time came to come out and get ready for a park again, the admonition was nearly always met with grave disappointment.
Pool – 3
Parks – 0
And all this drivel in the previous two paragraphs was really just to say that we all really, really enjoyed our afternoon of swimming back at the resort!
So, refreshed and ready to take on the World once more, we headed to the West Depot to catch a bus to the Magic Kingdom, where we would then take a boat over to the Wilderness Lodge for our dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe. This would end up being yet another testament against the Disney transportation system. Despite leaving POR shortly after 4:00pm for a 5:45pm ADR at the WL, we arrived with only minutes to spare....
And passed under the wooden arch where our dinner adventure was about to begin....
Being well-versed in all things DIS when it comes to Eating Around the World, I knew that WCC was not a place for the faint of heart or the painfully shy. We have none of those in our party (slightly shy, perhaps, but nothing that can't be overcome with some good-natured joshin') so we were ready for whatever she threw our way.
Which turned out to be a handful of straws from our waitress... They landed in somewhat of a heap in the center of the table, so we fared better than the family next to us who had to retrieve their napkins from all over creation.
DH, DS11 and I all ordered the All-You-Can-Eat Skillet...
DS6 got the kid's chicken strips, and DS8 got, as usual, a cheeseburger and fries. ( I should have just made up a card and pinned it on his shirt every day - “I'd like a cheeseburger and fries, please!” Would've saved a lot of time in the long run. ) We were also introduced to the bottomless shake.... Heaven! Between the lot of us, we got caramel, chocolate, orange, vanilla, and a mango smoothie. Mmmm! Yummy.
While waiting for our food to arrive, we witnessed our first Embarrassment. Somehow a young couple who were celebrating their anniversary caught the attention of a server, who promptly made them stand up for all to see and made a big deal over them. We were then instructed to tap our glasses with a spoon, and after the obligatory kiss, we all sang Happy Anniversary to them to the tune of Happy Birthday. Which is quite awkward, trying to fit a 5-syllable word into a 2-syllable space. I saw my boys steal anxious glances at one another, wondering if by some horrific Disney possibility the servers knew they had birthdays coming up this fall. They didn't.
The next antic had to do with ketchup. If you've eaten at WCC before, you know what that's all about, and if you haven't, I'm not going to ruin the surprise for you. Suffice it to say, if you ask for ketchup, you WILL get ketchup!!
There was also a stick-horse race, much to the delight of my horse-loving 6-yr old. He jumped right up, grabbed a horse, and was off and running within 1/1000th of a second of “Go!”. That boy can gallop! He didn't win (dang the cute little pig-tailed blonde on the far turn...), but he had a blast trying.
About the time the meal was wrapping up and we were slurping our glasses clean of the 2nd round of shakes, DH suddenly took a “look” about him and announced he really wasn't feeling so hot and wanted to go get some air. This was cause for concern on my part because the man is NEVER sick. Ever. He left abruptly and I wished our server would come with the check so we could call this done and I could find out what was going on.
She finally did, and within a moment of her leaving with my KTTW card to charge the tip to our room, DS8 suddenly announced that he didn't feel well, either. Unlike DH, when this boy says he feels sick, it's time to hustle him to the nearest bathroom!! I was feeling completely trapped at this point. DH was MIA, I was still waiting for our server to return with my card, and now DS8 doesn't feel well. I quickly told DS11 to take him and find the bathroom right away. DS8 replied that he didn't feel that sick.... But I know this child. Once again I implored the eldest to take his brother – now – and find the bathroom. I pointed him in the general direction of where it should be and they were off.
This is where the Whispering Canyon yelled at us. But believe me, that's all the detail you want on how the rest of this meal played out. I will just conclude by saying that DS8 did at least make it to the restroom. Where all of the stalls were occupied. And fortunately, there happened to be a janitor present. DH ended up being fine. He admitted to me later that he had been feeling a bit “blah” starting the day before we left for our trip, but hadn't wanted to say anything to me so I wouldn't worry.
So before y'all start getting all wigged out over having a meal at Whispering Canyon Cafe, let me stress here that DH and DS8 had caught a bit of the stomach bug that was going around home, before we left, and it simply chose this night to rear its ugly head. For the rest of us who weren't so afflicted, it was a great meal with some great fun.
But there is nothing – and I mean nothing! - about that place that whispers!!!
DS6 on the bridge over the stream inside the WL!...
On our way back to the boats:
--------------------------
Next time: THAT WAS TOTALLY WICKED!!!!!
Incredible Quote:
"Mr. Incredible: Well what are you waiting for?!!
Boy on tricycle: I don't know....something AMAZING!, I guess.
Mr. Inredible: Me too, kid..."
.
And hardly anyone up here has a big ol' in-ground pool, so coming to Florida and swimming at our Disney resort is about as good as it gets without actually going to the parks! I'm fairly certain that we could come to Disney, spend a week, never do the parks, and if the bulk of the day was spent in the pool, my kids wouldn't raise the slightest complaint. Case in point: on a daily basis, we would head out for one of the four theme parks at opening, do a boatload of super-cool Disney stuff, and by early afternoon, the battle cry from the troops was inevitably “I want to go back to the resort and swim!” On the other hand, having spent 2 or even 3 hours in said pool, when the time came to come out and get ready for a park again, the admonition was nearly always met with grave disappointment.
Pool – 3
Parks – 0
And all this drivel in the previous two paragraphs was really just to say that we all really, really enjoyed our afternoon of swimming back at the resort!
So, refreshed and ready to take on the World once more, we headed to the West Depot to catch a bus to the Magic Kingdom, where we would then take a boat over to the Wilderness Lodge for our dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe. This would end up being yet another testament against the Disney transportation system. Despite leaving POR shortly after 4:00pm for a 5:45pm ADR at the WL, we arrived with only minutes to spare....
And passed under the wooden arch where our dinner adventure was about to begin....
Being well-versed in all things DIS when it comes to Eating Around the World, I knew that WCC was not a place for the faint of heart or the painfully shy. We have none of those in our party (slightly shy, perhaps, but nothing that can't be overcome with some good-natured joshin') so we were ready for whatever she threw our way.
Which turned out to be a handful of straws from our waitress... They landed in somewhat of a heap in the center of the table, so we fared better than the family next to us who had to retrieve their napkins from all over creation.
DH, DS11 and I all ordered the All-You-Can-Eat Skillet...
DS6 got the kid's chicken strips, and DS8 got, as usual, a cheeseburger and fries. ( I should have just made up a card and pinned it on his shirt every day - “I'd like a cheeseburger and fries, please!” Would've saved a lot of time in the long run. ) We were also introduced to the bottomless shake.... Heaven! Between the lot of us, we got caramel, chocolate, orange, vanilla, and a mango smoothie. Mmmm! Yummy.
While waiting for our food to arrive, we witnessed our first Embarrassment. Somehow a young couple who were celebrating their anniversary caught the attention of a server, who promptly made them stand up for all to see and made a big deal over them. We were then instructed to tap our glasses with a spoon, and after the obligatory kiss, we all sang Happy Anniversary to them to the tune of Happy Birthday. Which is quite awkward, trying to fit a 5-syllable word into a 2-syllable space. I saw my boys steal anxious glances at one another, wondering if by some horrific Disney possibility the servers knew they had birthdays coming up this fall. They didn't.
The next antic had to do with ketchup. If you've eaten at WCC before, you know what that's all about, and if you haven't, I'm not going to ruin the surprise for you. Suffice it to say, if you ask for ketchup, you WILL get ketchup!!
There was also a stick-horse race, much to the delight of my horse-loving 6-yr old. He jumped right up, grabbed a horse, and was off and running within 1/1000th of a second of “Go!”. That boy can gallop! He didn't win (dang the cute little pig-tailed blonde on the far turn...), but he had a blast trying.
About the time the meal was wrapping up and we were slurping our glasses clean of the 2nd round of shakes, DH suddenly took a “look” about him and announced he really wasn't feeling so hot and wanted to go get some air. This was cause for concern on my part because the man is NEVER sick. Ever. He left abruptly and I wished our server would come with the check so we could call this done and I could find out what was going on.
She finally did, and within a moment of her leaving with my KTTW card to charge the tip to our room, DS8 suddenly announced that he didn't feel well, either. Unlike DH, when this boy says he feels sick, it's time to hustle him to the nearest bathroom!! I was feeling completely trapped at this point. DH was MIA, I was still waiting for our server to return with my card, and now DS8 doesn't feel well. I quickly told DS11 to take him and find the bathroom right away. DS8 replied that he didn't feel that sick.... But I know this child. Once again I implored the eldest to take his brother – now – and find the bathroom. I pointed him in the general direction of where it should be and they were off.
This is where the Whispering Canyon yelled at us. But believe me, that's all the detail you want on how the rest of this meal played out. I will just conclude by saying that DS8 did at least make it to the restroom. Where all of the stalls were occupied. And fortunately, there happened to be a janitor present. DH ended up being fine. He admitted to me later that he had been feeling a bit “blah” starting the day before we left for our trip, but hadn't wanted to say anything to me so I wouldn't worry.
So before y'all start getting all wigged out over having a meal at Whispering Canyon Cafe, let me stress here that DH and DS8 had caught a bit of the stomach bug that was going around home, before we left, and it simply chose this night to rear its ugly head. For the rest of us who weren't so afflicted, it was a great meal with some great fun.
But there is nothing – and I mean nothing! - about that place that whispers!!!
DS6 on the bridge over the stream inside the WL!...
On our way back to the boats:
--------------------------
Next time: THAT WAS TOTALLY WICKED!!!!!
Incredible Quote:
"Mr. Incredible: Well what are you waiting for?!!
Boy on tricycle: I don't know....something AMAZING!, I guess.
Mr. Inredible: Me too, kid..."
.
pmama
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 5, 2008
- Messages
- 1,309
Well, your title got me for two reasons. On our recent trip we rode to the MK next to this adorable 9 yr old girl who described everything as "WIKED FUN", or "WIKED FAST", etc. We thought that was so funny that we used that word all the time for the rest of our trip. I checked and no she doesn't belong to your family. But it is now one our favorite words. Also, I'm guessing that you went to MNSSHP as the Incredibles. So did we.
It was pretty popular this year but so much fun to dress your whole family up the same. Great TR so far.
It was pretty popular this year but so much fun to dress your whole family up the same. Great TR so far.
2xcited2sleep
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2008
- Messages
- 11,304
I am with you on murky bottom lakes... not for me!! 
Whispering Canyon does sound like fun (minus a terribly timed stomach bug!)!!
Whispering Canyon does sound like fun (minus a terribly timed stomach bug!)!!
Lady Lallie
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2008
- Messages
- 18,540
I love swimming in lakes. Now, I can deal with the muck if it doesn't touch me but if I have to walk in muck before I can not touch anymore that doesn't fly with me. Which is why I love docks, jump in, no muck, no mess.
I have seen Whispering Canyon in a whoooole new light.
DH and I really want to try this next trip but I have to admit that I am scared of the craziness. 
I have seen Whispering Canyon in a whoooole new light.
DH and I really want to try this next trip but I have to admit that I am scared of the craziness. 
creativeamanda
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2008
- Messages
- 9,530
I grew up swimming in lakes. They don't bother me all that much, but I do prefer pools.
Great installment.
Great installment.
TarzansKat
Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate.
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2008
- Messages
- 12,787
I do love a good swim at Disney. Apparently, you do too!
Okay, even though my rational mind tells me that the menfolk had a stomach bug, my freakout instinct says OMG, don't eat there.
But let me also tell you why. Well, not in great detail, but let's just say TK has an aversion to skillet food and leave it at that.
Well, let's not. It was the Garden Grill. We tried it twice because the character interaction was so good. Every. Member. Of. My. Party. Sick.
'Nuff said. However, I'm glad you had a good time!
And it warms me to see pics of the lodge again.
Okay, even though my rational mind tells me that the menfolk had a stomach bug, my freakout instinct says OMG, don't eat there.
But let me also tell you why. Well, not in great detail, but let's just say TK has an aversion to skillet food and leave it at that.
Well, let's not. It was the Garden Grill. We tried it twice because the character interaction was so good. Every. Member. Of. My. Party. Sick.
'Nuff said. However, I'm glad you had a good time!
And it warms me to see pics of the lodge again.
Tinkerbellarella
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2008
- Messages
- 3,520
Wait until I get to regale you with tales of what happened when someone in our party had to navigate the 4 square inches of the airplane's loo for something other than the normal potty visit. ::sigh::
Bathroom Olympics, Part I.
No. I'm definitely NOT getting the love for FL vibe from you. At all.
My. Kind. Of. Lady.
4,192nd? That's all?
Happiest. Description. Ever. (NOBest.Nom.Ever)
And strangely, I was also reminded of the Tina-Fey-as-Palin-SNL-skit when she says, "I can see Russia from my backyard."
I cry. Plain and simple. My brain recognizes that I'm speechless, without words, non-vocabularized and so, instead chooses to express itself with big alligator tears threatening to consume my cheeks and a lump in my throat the size of Bunsen Honeydew's head.
And why were thigh-high boots EVER legal??!!Yikes.
Are you kidding? I wear my thigh-high neon boots and mini skirt to the Lab ALL THE TIME!
Happiest. Nom. Ever.
This makes me feel gleeful.
MINE!
It used to be a restaurant. I ate there on my first trip with my grandparents. I VERY vaguely remember it. Then it closed down. Now it's got the restrooms, first aid and the rest of the building is used for special corporate events. The building was actually in use for some special event on the night of our dinner in Italy. They actually detoured us off the path and away from the building.
Ever see that look at cruising altitude on an airplane when the beverage service has just past and is now blocking the path to the lav, you're between the heaver and the aisle and you have your laptop, cranberry juice and iPod all laid out in front of you? Even. Less. Fun.
Can't tell you how happy I am to be reading this.
LegoMom3
WDW vet now exploring "Walt's Park!"
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 10,461
Well, your title got me for two reasons. On our recent trip we rode to the MK next to this adorable 9 yr old girl who described everything as "WIKED FUN", or "WIKED FAST", etc. We thought that was so funny that we used that word all the time for the rest of our trip. I checked and no she doesn't belong to your family. But it is now one our favorite words. Also, I'm guessing that you went to MNSSHP as the Incredibles. So did we.
A New Englander for sure! See, we don't even think about it and it just spouts forth so naturally that we don't consider that others don't use it! And no, we didn't do MNSSHP but there are matching shirts involved.... Stay tuned!!
I am with you on murky bottom lakes... not for me!!
WCC was a blast. If the bug had stayed away, it would have been a perfect meal!
....
I have seen Whispering Canyon in a whoooole new light.
Oh you've gotta try it once! Being a young couple, you may get picked out of the crowd as potential newlyweds or on your honeymoon, but if you do, just go with it! It's a blast.
Thanks!
Trust me, it wasn't the food. Since DS11 and I also had the skillet and were NOT sick, and DS8 didn't have the skillet and was sick, then it stands to reason that it was the bug and not the food that brought about "the event." (And I'm sorry to potentially disappoint Zzub but that's all the detail I'm gonna share on that!....some people I know *coughsniffhackZ* might actually take a picture and then post it on their TR....
).But seriously. It wasn't the food!
Well heck I'm gonna have to try harder then!
Best. Reply. EVER!
You rock!
And yet, I'm still waiting to be regaled with this story... Yeesh, you'd think you actually have a life or something that inhibits your DISing time!
Thanks for dropping by! There's more coming, soon...I promise!
The party's still going so come on in!
.
LegoMom3
WDW vet now exploring "Walt's Park!"
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 10,461
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times....
This day would turn out to be totally wicked and completely sucky. All in one day. Neatly packaged and sprung upon us like Dream Fastpasses. Except we didn't get those.
This was DHS day. We arrived just after opening, so while the crowds were herding down Hollywood Blvd., we lingered at the entrance.
Yes, you read right. We lingered.....
There was no mad dash for Fastpasses at Toy Story Mania. Alas, NONE of us were in the mood for that particular incarnation of the Running of the Bulls. I expect the original in Pamplona is a might less dangerous, too. Disney vacationers on a mad rush to obtain the rights to ride a new attraction with minimal wait....well let's just hope y'all signed a release waiver! It reminds me of what the Oklahoma Land Rush must have been like. People lined up behind a rope, or some invisible line, knowing their very destiny lies just out of sight and knowing they've got to beat the masses to that perfect plot of land. Or, in this case, an upright rectangular box that spits out little pieces of paper.
So we lingered...at the top of Hollywood Blvd. DS11 asked for an autograph book, which we purchased right there at the Crossroads of the World. Before we were done, DH had secretly bought me a Mater pin, which I had mentioned in passing the day before as something I thought would be cool to add to my collection. When he presented it to me, I got all kinds of mushy on him....
I also took this opportunity to rent a stroller for DS6. He's going to be 7 in December, but he's a little bit of a peanut and all that walking wore him down quicker than the rest of us. I got the 3-day bargain deal which would secure a stroller for our upcoming days in Animal Kingdom and Epcot too. And how uninteresting is all of this?! Do you really care that I rented a stroller? Does it matter in the least in the grand scheme of things? Well, no, but chronologically it's just what we did while wasting so much precious time just lingering at the Studios entrance!
With DS6 riding like a king in his chariot and the crowds gone on their merry herd-of-cattle way, we were ready to head out and tackle the park. Our first stop was Mickey's of Hollywood. I'm all about a little retail therapy first thing in the morning!! I didn't actually buy anything myself, but DS8 fell in love with and promptly purchased with his own, hard-earned money, a Star Wars Droid blaster gun. I requested it be shipped back to the resort, since it was large and awkward and knew he'd tire of carrying it before we could say Star Wars. On my way out of the shop, I was suddenly stopped dead in my tracks by this....
The Wall of Mugs....! (cue choir of angels!)
Looking at that picture right now, I see three or 4 mugs....at least!....that I shoulda bought! Rats.
You have to understand here, I have a mug fettish. I find them irresistible and if I had my druthers (whatever those are) I'd have shelves all around my kitchen just to display mugs. I knew I wanted one, but this wall overwhelmed even me and all I could do was stand and stare. And at the urging of my ever-patient husband, I finally pulled myself away and went back out into the heat, where I regained my senses. How I got out of there without making a mug purchase remains a mystery.
As we made our way down Hollywood Blvd we once again took pictures of each of the boys on the dime store horse. It's our third set of such photos and fun to see how they've grown since each preceding trip. And right about there we also saw a Photopass photographer and had a series of family snapshots with the Hat in the background.
Somewhere between here and the Hat itself, the Times Guide bit me in the butt.... Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show was performing exactly two two!! - times on this day. Our one and only Studios day. Once at 10 minutes after our lunch ADR, and again at 4:30, smack in the middle of pool time. We could, conceivably, skip pool time, but that runs the risk of not making it until Fantasmic. Since this was our one and only day at the Studios, it was a must-see too. I had this day so, so carefully planned out. How could this happen?! Dang the slow season. Dang our not getting Park Hoppers...!
Never. Again.
In the end, all my planning would wind its way right down the drain, anyway, and none of this would matter a hill of soggy beans, but it was still early and we didn't know that yet. We headed for Star Tours first. DS11 and DS8 wanted to ride this. DS6 and I hung out at Tatooine Traders....
and it was only a matter of time before the boy found the Build-Your-Own-Lightsaber station.... He was SO enamored of it, and I was feeling some kind of guilty that he had to miss Star Tours (neither DH nor I can handle this ride, so he had to sit it out), so I ushered him right over to the nice, grandmotherly CM who was assisting with the building, and I set the boy loose.
Crazy I am. Taken leave of my senses, I have. Build or build not.... There is no try.
*sigh*
Well in no time at all he had one super-cool light saber, complete with sound-changing crystals!! There are three different colored plastic crystal rocks, and each one makes a different battle sound...
Best. Light saber. Ever.
About the time that the boys emptied out of Star Tours, we all got our hunger on. We backtracked over to Starring Rolls Cafe and had our fill of breakfast treats and some pretty darn good coffee! It was busy, but we found a corner, out-of-the-way table where we could park the stroller and sit a spell in some blessed shade. Oh yeah, it was hot that day.
We hadn't been there very long when it struck us how loud that little outdoor cafe seemed to be. I mean, it was a busy place, but should it be so loud that we had to really raise our voices just to talk to the person across the table? Why was it so loud?!
Three little letters: HSM.....
Oh how we would grow to hate High School Musical. It is to the Studios what Cinderellabration was to the MK. It was loud, extremely annoying, and it was performed over and over and over again.....
All. Day. Long.
And as if the teeny-bopper stage show weren't enough to rob you of your sanity, they then take the whole show on the road and an over-sized parade float takes the whole ill-conceived idea right down Hollywood Blvd.
We really, really didn't like the HSM show, in case you didn't catch that.
At this point, being near the entrance to Mickey Avenue, we decided to head over there and see Journey Into Narnia and the Magic of Disney Animation. The Incredibles WERE making appearances this day, on-going from 11:30am! Oh yes, this would be Mom's day. The elusive Supers were almost within reach. Since Journey Into Narnia is right next to the new Pixar Place area, we moseyed over there to have a look-see at all the new theming and over-sized toy props. There were some Toy Soldiers walking about and DS11 wanted to try to get an autograph. We were so focused on the Toy Soldier just ahead of us, that we almost walked right past the TSM Fastpass machines. Which were not yet sold out....at 10:45am!!!
The return time was 2:55pm 3:55pm!....perfect for right after lunch at Sci-Fi!!
I grabbed my family's KTTW cards faster 'n you can say Hey howdy hey! and scored us some Fastpasses for Toy Story Mania, baby!! Without the Running of the Bulls! I immediately felt a rush of joy, followed quickly by a deep sense of relief..... Mean Queen and LL would kill me if I came back and said I'd missed this ride!!
Holding these Fastpasses, I kind of felt like Charlie when he finds the Golden Ticket. You see it, and you finger it gingerly, as though it might turn to dust at your very touch. Then you want to just grab it and run through the streets waving it wildly and yelling "I found it!....I've got the last Golden Ticket!" except you would be yelling about having the last TSM Fastpass or something like that. Because they're not golden nor are they [technically] tickets. But they are the prize! If you've got one of these, you're somebody special! And you feel even more giddy about it because you were the poor kid who shouldn't have had a snowball's chance in hell to ever get your hands on one in the first place. YOU lingered while everyone else made a mad dash. While Veruca's father's minions opened thousands of boxes of chocolate bars. While some other kid got one when he really didn't care if he did or not! YOU HAVE THE GOLDEN TICKET!!!
I savored the sweetness of the moment.....
And then we went to Narnia.
--------------------------------------
Next time: To be continued!....
Incredible Quote:
Elastigirl: Settle down, are you kidding? I'm at the top of my game! I'm right up there with the big dogs! Girls, come on. Leave the saving of the world to the men? I don't think so.
.
This day would turn out to be totally wicked and completely sucky. All in one day. Neatly packaged and sprung upon us like Dream Fastpasses. Except we didn't get those.
This was DHS day. We arrived just after opening, so while the crowds were herding down Hollywood Blvd., we lingered at the entrance.
Yes, you read right. We lingered.....
There was no mad dash for Fastpasses at Toy Story Mania. Alas, NONE of us were in the mood for that particular incarnation of the Running of the Bulls. I expect the original in Pamplona is a might less dangerous, too. Disney vacationers on a mad rush to obtain the rights to ride a new attraction with minimal wait....well let's just hope y'all signed a release waiver! It reminds me of what the Oklahoma Land Rush must have been like. People lined up behind a rope, or some invisible line, knowing their very destiny lies just out of sight and knowing they've got to beat the masses to that perfect plot of land. Or, in this case, an upright rectangular box that spits out little pieces of paper.
So we lingered...at the top of Hollywood Blvd. DS11 asked for an autograph book, which we purchased right there at the Crossroads of the World. Before we were done, DH had secretly bought me a Mater pin, which I had mentioned in passing the day before as something I thought would be cool to add to my collection. When he presented it to me, I got all kinds of mushy on him....
I also took this opportunity to rent a stroller for DS6. He's going to be 7 in December, but he's a little bit of a peanut and all that walking wore him down quicker than the rest of us. I got the 3-day bargain deal which would secure a stroller for our upcoming days in Animal Kingdom and Epcot too. And how uninteresting is all of this?! Do you really care that I rented a stroller? Does it matter in the least in the grand scheme of things? Well, no, but chronologically it's just what we did while wasting so much precious time just lingering at the Studios entrance!
With DS6 riding like a king in his chariot and the crowds gone on their merry herd-of-cattle way, we were ready to head out and tackle the park. Our first stop was Mickey's of Hollywood. I'm all about a little retail therapy first thing in the morning!!
I didn't actually buy anything myself, but DS8 fell in love with and promptly purchased with his own, hard-earned money, a Star Wars Droid blaster gun. I requested it be shipped back to the resort, since it was large and awkward and knew he'd tire of carrying it before we could say Star Wars. On my way out of the shop, I was suddenly stopped dead in my tracks by this....The Wall of Mugs....! (cue choir of angels!)
Looking at that picture right now, I see three or 4 mugs....at least!....that I shoulda bought! Rats.
You have to understand here, I have a mug fettish. I find them irresistible and if I had my druthers (whatever those are) I'd have shelves all around my kitchen just to display mugs. I knew I wanted one, but this wall overwhelmed even me and all I could do was stand and stare. And at the urging of my ever-patient husband, I finally pulled myself away and went back out into the heat, where I regained my senses. How I got out of there without making a mug purchase remains a mystery.
As we made our way down Hollywood Blvd we once again took pictures of each of the boys on the dime store horse. It's our third set of such photos and fun to see how they've grown since each preceding trip. And right about there we also saw a Photopass photographer and had a series of family snapshots with the Hat in the background.
Somewhere between here and the Hat itself, the Times Guide bit me in the butt.... Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show was performing exactly two two!! - times on this day. Our one and only Studios day. Once at 10 minutes after our lunch ADR, and again at 4:30, smack in the middle of pool time. We could, conceivably, skip pool time, but that runs the risk of not making it until Fantasmic. Since this was our one and only day at the Studios, it was a must-see too. I had this day so, so carefully planned out. How could this happen?! Dang the slow season. Dang our not getting Park Hoppers...!
Never. Again.
In the end, all my planning would wind its way right down the drain, anyway, and none of this would matter a hill of soggy beans, but it was still early and we didn't know that yet. We headed for Star Tours first. DS11 and DS8 wanted to ride this. DS6 and I hung out at Tatooine Traders....
and it was only a matter of time before the boy found the Build-Your-Own-Lightsaber station.... He was SO enamored of it, and I was feeling some kind of guilty that he had to miss Star Tours (neither DH nor I can handle this ride, so he had to sit it out), so I ushered him right over to the nice, grandmotherly CM who was assisting with the building, and I set the boy loose.
Crazy I am. Taken leave of my senses, I have. Build or build not.... There is no try.
*sigh*
Well in no time at all he had one super-cool light saber, complete with sound-changing crystals!! There are three different colored plastic crystal rocks, and each one makes a different battle sound...
Best. Light saber. Ever.
About the time that the boys emptied out of Star Tours, we all got our hunger on. We backtracked over to Starring Rolls Cafe and had our fill of breakfast treats and some pretty darn good coffee! It was busy, but we found a corner, out-of-the-way table where we could park the stroller and sit a spell in some blessed shade. Oh yeah, it was hot that day.
We hadn't been there very long when it struck us how loud that little outdoor cafe seemed to be. I mean, it was a busy place, but should it be so loud that we had to really raise our voices just to talk to the person across the table? Why was it so loud?!
Three little letters: HSM.....
Oh how we would grow to hate High School Musical. It is to the Studios what Cinderellabration was to the MK. It was loud, extremely annoying, and it was performed over and over and over again.....
All. Day. Long.
And as if the teeny-bopper stage show weren't enough to rob you of your sanity, they then take the whole show on the road and an over-sized parade float takes the whole ill-conceived idea right down Hollywood Blvd.
We really, really didn't like the HSM show, in case you didn't catch that.
At this point, being near the entrance to Mickey Avenue, we decided to head over there and see Journey Into Narnia and the Magic of Disney Animation. The Incredibles WERE making appearances this day, on-going from 11:30am! Oh yes, this would be Mom's day. The elusive Supers were almost within reach. Since Journey Into Narnia is right next to the new Pixar Place area, we moseyed over there to have a look-see at all the new theming and over-sized toy props. There were some Toy Soldiers walking about and DS11 wanted to try to get an autograph. We were so focused on the Toy Soldier just ahead of us, that we almost walked right past the TSM Fastpass machines. Which were not yet sold out....at 10:45am!!!
The return time was 2:55pm 3:55pm!....perfect for right after lunch at Sci-Fi!!
I grabbed my family's KTTW cards faster 'n you can say Hey howdy hey! and scored us some Fastpasses for Toy Story Mania, baby!! Without the Running of the Bulls! I immediately felt a rush of joy, followed quickly by a deep sense of relief..... Mean Queen and LL would kill me if I came back and said I'd missed this ride!!
Holding these Fastpasses, I kind of felt like Charlie when he finds the Golden Ticket. You see it, and you finger it gingerly, as though it might turn to dust at your very touch. Then you want to just grab it and run through the streets waving it wildly and yelling "I found it!....I've got the last Golden Ticket!" except you would be yelling about having the last TSM Fastpass or something like that. Because they're not golden nor are they [technically] tickets. But they are the prize! If you've got one of these, you're somebody special! And you feel even more giddy about it because you were the poor kid who shouldn't have had a snowball's chance in hell to ever get your hands on one in the first place. YOU lingered while everyone else made a mad dash. While Veruca's father's minions opened thousands of boxes of chocolate bars. While some other kid got one when he really didn't care if he did or not! YOU HAVE THE GOLDEN TICKET!!!
I savored the sweetness of the moment.....
And then we went to Narnia.
--------------------------------------
Next time: To be continued!....
Incredible Quote:
Elastigirl: Settle down, are you kidding? I'm at the top of my game! I'm right up there with the big dogs! Girls, come on. Leave the saving of the world to the men? I don't think so.
.
TarzansKat
Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate.
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2008
- Messages
- 12,787
So I guess no family is immune to a certain amount of debacle on their vacation, eh?
I'll admit, you've peaked my interest.
Why will LegoMom henceforth always purchase park hoppers?
Did they actually stay in the park all day so as to see everything on their list?
Who melted down first?
I have so many, many questions. Could you update again?
I'll admit, you've peaked my interest.
Why will LegoMom henceforth always purchase park hoppers?
Did they actually stay in the park all day so as to see everything on their list?
Who melted down first?
I have so many, many questions. Could you update again?
creativeamanda
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2008
- Messages
- 9,530
Now that is a great installment and worth every bit of the wait! So my big question is, did you see Prince Caspian?
Lady Lallie
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2008
- Messages
- 18,540
I have to admit, I was getting a little peeved that you might miss TSM after my wonderful words of encouragment. I am glad to see that you learned the errors of your ways and were able to obtain FP.
LegoMom3
WDW vet now exploring "Walt's Park!"
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 10,461
We made our way to the queue to meet Prince Caspian. I studied the map of Narnia and commented to DH at how similar it was to a map of Middle Earth. Same writing, same markings. It was cool. DH then reminded me that Lewis and Tolkien were friends and often had similar themes running within their writings. Probably explains why the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Chronicles of Narnia are my favorite movies ever.
When it was our turn and we entered the forest, Prince Caspian greeted us like true royalty and I secretly wished I was 20 years younger.... Wow...! DS8 ended up being really, really enthralled with this meet. His face lit up and he just kept mentioning it throughout the whole rest of the day. Definitely a high point for him! DS11 got his autograph, we took a few photos, and said our gracious good-byes. Prince Caspian was fantastic in his interaction 110% in character! As far as my kids are concerned, they met the real honest-to-goodness Prince.
From here we entered Journey Into Narnia. As others have commented, it's basically a plug for the movie, but it's really cool if you've seen the movies and are into them at all. Walking into the chamber of the Stone Table was quite realistic. It has spiritual connotations for me, and it was quite moving for me to see up close the representation of such a great sacrifice. I think a lot of people miss that in the Narnia movies, but as with anything, if you're aware of the deeper meaning, it takes on a whole other dimension.
After a brief presentation and some film clips, we were ushered into the prop area where you could see some of the actual costumes worn by the children. What completely amazed me was the attention to detail, and how they can take something new and make it look like it's hundreds of years old and seen many battles.
On to The Magic of Disney Animation!!
There was about a 10 minute wait before the next show, so we walked around the outdoor queue area and looked at the old movie renderings.
Once inside, we watched the little show starring Mushu (or however you spell it), which was entertaining enough. We'd never seen it before and the boys liked it. We all spent some time admiring the artists in the working studio afterwards, though. DS11, who is very artistically inclined, was completely awed by the rows and rows of paints and markers and such! He asked me about the people working on drawings in there, if that was their job. I assured him it was, and saw a look of fascination light on his face. Hey, who knows who the next great Disney artist will be!
Finally, FINALLY we entered the domain of.....
The Incredibles!!!!!
There they were: Mr. & Mrs. Incredible!....in the flesh! Or, in the Super Suit, at least. There wasn't too much of a line, so we all queued up and anxiously waited our turn. I was so many kinds of giddy at this point... Who was the kid here, anyway?! I'm not embarrassed to admit that I was. When our turn came and we approached them, they immediately noticed our matching t-shirts with their likeness on them and made a big fuss over us. It is utterly amazing how they communicate without words, how much is said by gesture alone. Mr. I had my hubby make a big muscle and compared it to his own, Mrs. I showed her appreciation for my shirt with her picture on it, as well as DS8 and DS6 with the picture of Dash. Then, they both caught sight of Syndrome on DS11's shirt... Boy did the fur fly then! Oh they made gestures like they were horrified!!....covering their eyes and stepping back, and Mr. I made like he might attack this nemesis! DS11 took it all in stride and it was a ton of fun. SO so worth the 2-year wait! I don't have the Photopass picture yet so I can't show you how cool we all looked in our Incredible poses, but it was a blast!
Alas we had to bid them good-bye (what do you mean another family wants their turn...?! These are MY characters!! ). But it was on to Mickey! Another brief wait, and another amazing character meet! Mickey greeted each boy individually, and shook hands with DH. I, however, had stepped back by the Photopass guy, as it was my intention to just take pictures here and not be in the shots.
Mickey had other ideas...!
The Photopass photographer asked if I was going to join my family for the picture. When I said no, I was just going to get a shot of all my guys this time, Mickey put his hands on his hips, then waved one hand up in the air and shrugged his shoulders, then shook his head no and marched right over to me. Then, to the horror of my DH, Mickey started to flirt with me!!!! First he kissed me on the forehead, then he gave me a hug, followed by taking my hand giving that a kiss. I'm sure I was about 12 shades of embarrassed NOW! But really, how do you refuse that?! I took one picture of just the guys, then took my place next to the Mouse Himself and let the Photopass guy work his magic. Pure bliss...
But it wasn't over! Oh no, the Lego clan wasn't finished yet. After spending a few moments looking at the WALL-E props, something caught my eye up on the next level: the Incredibles were leaving, and who was that taking their place but Frozone!! Score! I alerted the kids and we headed right back up and got in the short line. DH opted not to join us this time, and oh how he should have. Up came our turn; all three boys went over to greet Frozone and this time I was staying out of the picture. I just wanted my boys in this one. DS8 and DS6 got handshakes and high fives and low fives and side fives. And DS11, with the Syndrome shirt, stopped Frozone dead in his tracks. He just looked at the shirt, then looked up at DS11. He shook his head in disgust and then made the move that will forever define this meet-n-greet.... He walked right up to the little autograph podium, ripped the Incredibles I symbol off it's heavy-duty Velcro base, put it in DS11's hands and made him cover up the Sydrome on his shirt!!!!
Dude!
And thus ended my long-awaited Incredibles meet at the Magic of Disney Animation. Those are some of the best memories we have from the trip. How Mr. & Mrs. Incredible were so excited to see us in our matching shirts. How Mickey made me feel extra special. How Frozone pulled out all the stops in his interaction with the kids. Those are the kind of things you go to Disney for, that you cannot get anywhere else on earth. I left there a very, very happy LegoMom.
-------------------------------
Next time: From Totally Wicked! to Completely Sucky....
Incredible Quote:
Helen: I think your father is in trouble.
Violet: If you haven't noticed, Mom, we're not doin' so hot either.
.
When it was our turn and we entered the forest, Prince Caspian greeted us like true royalty and I secretly wished I was 20 years younger.... Wow...! DS8 ended up being really, really enthralled with this meet. His face lit up and he just kept mentioning it throughout the whole rest of the day. Definitely a high point for him! DS11 got his autograph, we took a few photos, and said our gracious good-byes. Prince Caspian was fantastic in his interaction 110% in character! As far as my kids are concerned, they met the real honest-to-goodness Prince.
From here we entered Journey Into Narnia. As others have commented, it's basically a plug for the movie, but it's really cool if you've seen the movies and are into them at all. Walking into the chamber of the Stone Table was quite realistic. It has spiritual connotations for me, and it was quite moving for me to see up close the representation of such a great sacrifice. I think a lot of people miss that in the Narnia movies, but as with anything, if you're aware of the deeper meaning, it takes on a whole other dimension.
After a brief presentation and some film clips, we were ushered into the prop area where you could see some of the actual costumes worn by the children. What completely amazed me was the attention to detail, and how they can take something new and make it look like it's hundreds of years old and seen many battles.
On to The Magic of Disney Animation!!
There was about a 10 minute wait before the next show, so we walked around the outdoor queue area and looked at the old movie renderings.
Once inside, we watched the little show starring Mushu (or however you spell it), which was entertaining enough. We'd never seen it before and the boys liked it. We all spent some time admiring the artists in the working studio afterwards, though. DS11, who is very artistically inclined, was completely awed by the rows and rows of paints and markers and such! He asked me about the people working on drawings in there, if that was their job. I assured him it was, and saw a look of fascination light on his face. Hey, who knows who the next great Disney artist will be!
Finally, FINALLY we entered the domain of.....
The Incredibles!!!!!
There they were: Mr. & Mrs. Incredible!....in the flesh! Or, in the Super Suit, at least. There wasn't too much of a line, so we all queued up and anxiously waited our turn. I was so many kinds of giddy at this point... Who was the kid here, anyway?! I'm not embarrassed to admit that I was. When our turn came and we approached them, they immediately noticed our matching t-shirts with their likeness on them and made a big fuss over us. It is utterly amazing how they communicate without words, how much is said by gesture alone. Mr. I had my hubby make a big muscle and compared it to his own, Mrs. I showed her appreciation for my shirt with her picture on it, as well as DS8 and DS6 with the picture of Dash. Then, they both caught sight of Syndrome on DS11's shirt... Boy did the fur fly then!
Oh they made gestures like they were horrified!!....covering their eyes and stepping back, and Mr. I made like he might attack this nemesis! DS11 took it all in stride and it was a ton of fun. SO so worth the 2-year wait! I don't have the Photopass picture yet so I can't show you how cool we all looked in our Incredible poses, but it was a blast!Alas we had to bid them good-bye (what do you mean another family wants their turn...?! These are MY characters!!
). But it was on to Mickey! Another brief wait, and another amazing character meet! Mickey greeted each boy individually, and shook hands with DH. I, however, had stepped back by the Photopass guy, as it was my intention to just take pictures here and not be in the shots.Mickey had other ideas...!
The Photopass photographer asked if I was going to join my family for the picture. When I said no, I was just going to get a shot of all my guys this time, Mickey put his hands on his hips, then waved one hand up in the air and shrugged his shoulders, then shook his head no and marched right over to me. Then, to the horror of my DH, Mickey started to flirt with me!!!!
First he kissed me on the forehead, then he gave me a hug, followed by taking my hand giving that a kiss. I'm sure I was about 12 shades of embarrassed NOW! But really, how do you refuse that?! I took one picture of just the guys, then took my place next to the Mouse Himself and let the Photopass guy work his magic. Pure bliss...
But it wasn't over! Oh no, the Lego clan wasn't finished yet. After spending a few moments looking at the WALL-E props, something caught my eye up on the next level: the Incredibles were leaving, and who was that taking their place but Frozone!! Score! I alerted the kids and we headed right back up and got in the short line. DH opted not to join us this time, and oh how he should have. Up came our turn; all three boys went over to greet Frozone and this time I was staying out of the picture. I just wanted my boys in this one. DS8 and DS6 got handshakes and high fives and low fives and side fives. And DS11, with the Syndrome shirt, stopped Frozone dead in his tracks. He just looked at the shirt, then looked up at DS11. He shook his head in disgust and then made the move that will forever define this meet-n-greet.... He walked right up to the little autograph podium, ripped the Incredibles I symbol off it's heavy-duty Velcro base, put it in DS11's hands and made him cover up the Sydrome on his shirt!!!!
Dude!
And thus ended my long-awaited Incredibles meet at the Magic of Disney Animation. Those are some of the best memories we have from the trip. How Mr. & Mrs. Incredible were so excited to see us in our matching shirts. How Mickey made me feel extra special. How Frozone pulled out all the stops in his interaction with the kids. Those are the kind of things you go to Disney for, that you cannot get anywhere else on earth. I left there a very, very happy LegoMom.
-------------------------------
Next time: From Totally Wicked! to Completely Sucky....
Incredible Quote:
Helen: I think your father is in trouble.
Violet: If you haven't noticed, Mom, we're not doin' so hot either.
.
creativeamanda
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2008
- Messages
- 9,530
The character greets with the Incredibles and Frozone sound like the best ever! I'm excited the Stone Table is in Narnia, but I get so emotional at things, I think I may be all teary-eyed when I look at it. It sounds as if you all had an awesome trip to MGM. . .I mean Hollywood Studios!
As for the mugs earlier, I HAVE to have the Mike Wizowski (or however you spell it) one. Absolutely one of my favorite movies ever!
As for the mugs earlier, I HAVE to have the Mike Wizowski (or however you spell it) one. Absolutely one of my favorite movies ever!
Lady Lallie
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2008
- Messages
- 18,540
Awww. What wonderful character interactions you had!!
You are completely right, that is what Disney is all about!
I am really worried about the totally sucky part coming up!
You are completely right, that is what Disney is all about!
I am really worried about the totally sucky part coming up!
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