The General and her Clueless Crew 10/23- 31

[Got Muchness]

Saturday:
I won’t bore you with all the details of our departure. However, I will say that leaving day proved to be hectic! After having our Yukon XL thoroughly inspected on Friday to make sure we were good for such a long trip, we woke up Saturday to a flat tire . DH wasn’t very happy. We had to be at my sons football game by 10:45. After a long stressful morning. I made it to the football game with all three kids in tow and DH headed off to get four new tires put on the Yukon.
By 2pm we were headed south in a smooth riding vehicle and ready for some magic! (By this time I really needed it!!)
We arrived at Animal Kingdom Lodge at 11 pm. We had never been inside it before so even in our sleepy haze we stood in awe at the gorgeous lobby! The kids were thrilled and wanted to explore but it was late. I had done online check in and there was no one in that line (there was three families in the regular check in line). We were headed to our room in less than three minutes!!
Our friends had arrived earlier that evening so they were already in their rooms asleep. Ava, my youngest was supposed to be staying with her BFF in her room. But it was late so we just made it work in our room......which proved to be the pattern for the week. After long days in the park Ava wanted to be with her Mommy.

 

[Got Muchness]

Sunday:
I am going to go ahead and start on Sunday but I won’t be able to finish it all in this post. I’ll have to get back to it.
We woke up at 7am ready to go! After getting dressed we checked out some animals which was a super cool way to start out morning! Then we headed down to Mara (the counter service) and had breakfast. The kids always want Mickey Waffles their first morning. So we had waffles and bacon. Our friends made it to breakfast right after us and we discussed our day. I was given the nickname “General” since no one had a clue but me. I herded us out and to the bus stop. We were headed to Epcot!! Touring Plans had marked the crowd at Epcot as a .04 so I had chosen that as the best park for the day. Even though many had said Food and Wine was busy on the weekends. I chose to go with Touringplans suggestion.

When we arrived it was moments before 9. We headed directly to Soarin’ as soon as the park opened. This would be my DD6, Ava’s first ride. She was just at 42” this trip. The line was already at 30 minutes by the time we got there at 9:05. I wasn’t surprised. The rest of my crew was. I didn’t even attempt to explain that not all rides would be this bad as far as waits went.
Ava LOVED Soarin’ and since it is my favorite ride at Disney so did I!. After it was over we headed to do Living with the Land because DH is obsessed with this ride. The rest of us weren’t so excited. It was a 5 minute wait.
Once we were done I led everyone over to Test Track and by this time it was a 45 minute wait. DS11 was begging to ride and I couldn’t get fast passes because I had just gotten some for Soarin’ because DD6 had asked to ride again. SO, DS11, DD9 and the adults in the group (except me) went on the single rider line. It was only 5 minutes. I took Ava and her friend to get Mickey Popsicles and play in the water fountain.

Ava is the little one and is 6. Her friend is the taller one and is 5.

Once everyone was finished they then wanted to do Mission Space. Ava was too short for this one (and her friend who is actually 9 months younger than her even though she is really tall...is scared of most all rides. Ava is a short thing and will ride anything they let her ride. Her friend is almost as tall as my DD9 and she cries on most all rides.) so again I stayed with the little ones while the others went and rode. I could have done baby swap but I am not a big fan of Mission Space so I just waited with the girls in the play area at the Mission Space Exit. We made funny video emails and sent them to grandparents.
Once they were finished we headed to Universe of Energy. After watching Ellen with the Dinosaurs we headed to Club Cool and had some drinks.

Our friends child with my DD9 and DS11

I made sure to give my newbies a Beverly. Which one of them promptly spit out. They made a bit of a mess.
We made our way to the Seas. After riding Nemo we had to go next door to Coral Reef for our lunch ADR. This was a relaxing delicious meal. I had the Lobster Ravioli and it was YUMMO! DD9 got to eat her brothers adult meal and she chose Shrimp Caesar salad and loved it. DH got Mahi Mahi I believe and he all but licked his plate. I chose the Chocolate Wave for desert but I can tell you I made a mistake. DH got the Baileys and Jack Daniel’s Mousse and it was HEAVEN ON EARTH!

After our relaxing lunch we headed back to the Seas and saw Turtle Talk with Crush. I had read that if you put your kid in a funny hat and near the front they get a better chance of talking to Crush. So I put DD6 in a pair of Minnie ears and told her to sit near the front. Sure enough he called on her “The little girl with the extra set of ears”
She asked him if he liked to sleep. He said “Totally Duddette!”
This made her day.
After we finished up in the Seas we decided it was time to head to Spaceship Earth, go grab Test Track FP so Ava could ride later then to the World Showcase.
NOTE: Crowd levels for rides were really low except for Soarin’ and TT. Everything else was 5 minutes or less. So the .04 was right on target.


UP NEXT: Our adventures in Food, Wine, Liquor, Beer, and Caramel!

 

[SimmerBaggins]

My DH loves Living with the Land ride, too -- we just go along for the "cool" (note: physical, not mental) aspect of it! I mean, plants are nice, and all...and gators eyes glow in camera-flash, but...

That's funny that your daughter and her friend have completely incompatible riding characteristics!

Great report so far!!