The Grand Gatherers Take Over The World W/PHOTOS - THE END POSTED ON 8/30: Pg 6,#80!

[Grammyof2]

SNAP - you pics are beautiful. Loving the topiaries. Can't wait till we all meet in Oct. By then, you might have 15 more day trips under your belt.

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

As we left World Showcase, I made myself the same promise I always make. Someday I’ll come back and devote an entire day just to meandering through the different countries. It always amazes me at how much there is left to see. I think I’ll plan a Just Us Girls weekend with my best friend and do Epcot right. Lunch in Morocco, dinner in Canada, pastries in France and IllumiNations in England. Some like to drink their way around the world. Me? I want to SHOP my way around the world! My favorite Disney phrase? “Just send it to the resort.” (Preferably the Grand Floridian!)

We left World Showcase and made our way back to Future World, looking for Tinker Bell’s fairy garden.

Along the way, one of us (I think it was Iz) snapped this photo, which I think turned out kinda cool:

I’m a huge fan of the feisty little fairy, and the Tink topiary was at the top of my must see list for the Flower and Garden Festival. As we entered the garden, we almost bumped into Rhonda, Kim and Wesley in his rolling throne. They were off in search of a certain drowsy princess; and we told them where we’d left her, sitting on a wall waiting for Prince Wesley. We were hoping to find a few flitting fairies hiding in Tink’s secret garden. Although we didn’t find any (we do believe in fairies, we do, we do!); we found their house, complete with tiny little chairs and moss carpeting. Of course, watching over everything was Tink herself, supersized:

Hunting high and low for fairies can make a body hungry, so we decided to hit the Electric Umbrella and the unlimited topping bar for dinner. The unlimited air conditioning sounded awfully good, too.

Izzi and Lilli went in search of the perfect table while Dani and I got in line to order. According to Izzi, the perfect table was the one from which the most cute boys could be seen. I think the best table is the one from which the most good looking MEN can be seen. I’m just sayin’.

Somehow, Dani and I ended up in different queue lines; and once again I managed to choose the one that, although shorter, moved at a snail’s pace. And to make it even worse, I was trapped between Nudging Woman and Pungent Man.

No sooner had I gotten in line than my olfactory senses woke up and said, “Whoa, Nelly! What IS that smell?” Now, I understand that walking around Epcot in 90-degree heat is going to cause a certain amount of perspiration. I grew up on a farm and did my share of pulling weeds and picking beans in the summertime with my brother, so I know a little about sweatin’. There, I said it. Sweating isn’t pretty, which is probably why my Georgia Granny always insisted that ladies don’t sweat, they glow. Well, I’m here to tell you that Pungent Man in front of me was sweating up a storm, and he had evidently forgotten his Old Spice that morning. Just as I was backing up to put some distance between myself and Pungent Man, Nudging Woman stepped up and…uh huh…nudged me closer to him. My eyes began to water, and if I even so much as shifted my weight from one leg to the other, Nudging Woman would live up to her name. I tried holding my breath, but I assure you I am no David Blaine, and eventually lightheadedness forced me to breathe. The line moved at the same rate of speed as molasses running uphill on a cold day, and the fact that Special Order Girl was in front of Pungent Man didn’t help. Do you know how long a special order can hold up a line at an Epcot CS place? I’ll tell you. Twelve minutes. That’s a long time to be the filling in a Pungent Nudgewich. If those two worked together and used their powers for good, they could overcome any foe.

By the time we finished eating, the sun was going down and a cool breeze was blowing. We decided to go over to Minnie’s Butterfly House. There were lots of butterflies, but they were all congregating at the top of the house. The only butterfly we got a good look at was this one:

And, of course, a Minnie topiary!

We were a little disappointed by the lack of close-up butterfly sightings and decided that the only thing that could lift our spirits was TEST TRACK!!

I am a self-proclaimed ride wimp, but even I have to admit that after a couple of times around the course, Test Track is fast but not even a little scary. In other words, right up my alley! We screamed and squealed and made terror stricken faces for our ride photo and then rushed to see how goofy we looked. We were laughing at ourselves when Lilli grabbed my arm in a death grip and started jumping up and down because, “There’s a hidden Mickey in the picture! I found a hidden Mickey on Test Track!” Dani and Izzi immediately saw it and started congratulating her. Meanwhile, I’m staring at the photo trying to find the darn thing. I really, REALLY suck at finding hidden Mickeys. It’s embarrassing to be so hidden Mickey challenged. Lilli finally took pity on me and pointed it out. It’s a large Mickey-shaped coil of rope right next to the car, so be on the lookout for it. Truly, if it had’a been a snake….

Confession number. 4: Sometimes I just pretend to see the hidden Mickey so I don’t get pitying looks from an 8-year old.

Next: The snoozefest known as Figment

 

[New England Eeyore]

It's official, you've inspired me to go back to Epcot for the Flower and Garden Festival. I've been there twice at that time, but both were with my DH, who couldn't understand why I was going so crazy taking pictures of the topiaries. I think a solo-weekend next May is in order! The description of the little fairy houses near Tink is so neat - I had no idea they went to such detail, although I'm not surprised. This is Disney after all!

Great report!! It sounds like you girls had a great time. I can't wait for your report from the big trip this fall!

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

< oh,boy-oh,girl..you hink i had magical powers from the
ways my last lil postin [postin reminds me of "general mills..which in
turn "bring up"..mel's mom for some strange reason ]...my
lil postin matched your report???? for i wrote it before readin
a single word!

what with that???..it's almost like me and my lil sister...we were a family
of 10 but my mother had us in pairs..instead of matchin with a brother,
i got stuck with the "doll baby" of our family...however, we were very
close,even to this day..though she lives far away. here's something
spooky...we were the only ones to have 3 kids..both 2 boys and 1
girl...all of our boys had black hair but our daughters.....had the same
red hair like their grand mother! alot of times, we catch each other
thinking the same thingy & the same way!

when writin an expression or behavior..there always a lil reference to
what i read bout previously...i can't help but think,why it so funny
underwear can be used to described sexuality. underneath [ ],
i "see" how many were meant to felt including being proper and/or
meeting society expectations...reality-there is a difference between
their single days and their current relationships....being man & wife
for example is a learning experience then you add babies and everything
changes! from listening, it seem like the majority are in their 30's and
are now seeing themselves settle down??? ha! they're using the boards
to relive a few old insecurites and what they used to considered wild...
what made it funny too me, is the feelin they're breakin new ground???
ha! the more thingys changed, the more they're stay the same. some
of my hinting is with true meanings..sex, sexuality are important human
behaviors! underneath [ha! no pun], makes a marriage works for a life
time..if held with respect...and thru my experiences in love..i 'm alarmed
seeing others treating sexual relations like garbage! what they're doing
to their future, is ruining it! but it dosen't mean it is lacking humor in
a positive way..as evident by those on melastormers site.why talk this
up? the policing- which i can understand to a point, of not getting carry
away...however, have you ever watched the oldies [rhomatic movies]?
malestormers are not breaking any new ground...back them they "made"
the whole movie using sexual references.. in every line cos the any
behaviors were strickly prohibited...thou they were trying to sneak it in.
in a similar comparsion..think of the 20's when they barred etoh... and
the results...sex would be even a stronger reaction! children need
protection from predators and in relationships,sex requires a commitment.
but in adult conservations, it can be funny & stress coping if lines are not
crossed....my goodness..i 've become mature from my experiences....
is one funny example..in ,"it's a wonderful life"..see how important..
the scene where the old, codger on the porch tellin georgeto kiss her?
"youth is wasted on the wrong people"....and that's one of the most
spiritual movieever made...and when he was removed from "life"..
what was the horrible thing mary became ..a prostitute?nooooooooo
an old spinster? sex is important..and sexuality..and underneath it
requies respect and commitment to get the "real" meanings from it.
joke or no joke!

i really enjoying all your reporting so i thought about the main reason.
you are very accurate and you report how thediffernt thingsgoing on
effected your experience...good /bad..so i really feel like your takin
me along. .

do the make a rollin throin in adult sizes, if so maybe i can persuade my
lil darlin in pushin me??? but how to motivate her?? that's the question...
maybe danglin a few chocolate bars over the front? ahh,the princess
debate...so funny! i thinkin snowwhie..being the first..and thru our
experiences,she has been the one makin the disney princess experience
with us...but i also like the cindy'errrr"la,la because she was downgraded
by her stepmom and had to work herself back up.... thought
of the day! make no mistake ..even today ladys being ladys are attention
seeking in the most delightful ways!

 

[kimwim8]

Twelve minutes. That’s a long time to be the filling in a Pungent Nudgewich.

OMG!!!

That is priceless!!

Thank you so much for this report. You have made my DAY!

 

[tammyandtommy]

gotta love finding hidden mickeys! Especially the ones you really dont see

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Grammy - The topiaries are AMAZING. The line to get an unobstructed photo for some of them was like waiting to get a pic with the Mouse himself! Ya nevah know...I may have to go back next weekend! I am SO looking forward to the Maelstrom meet...it's going to give new meaning to the word supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Eeyore - You should definitely do a solo weekend! I especially enjoy strolling around Epcot by myself...for me, it has the most eye candy of any of the parks. Treat yourself to a glass of wine in Italy!

Li'l G - I think you've hit the nail on the head about our funny, fabulous Viking friends! They never cease to amaze me with their humour and genuine care for each other. Aren't we the lucky ones for getting to know them a little bit? Thanks for always posting on my trip report...you make me smile (and laugh out loud, too!).

kim - I made your day? No way, chick...YOU MADE MY DAY!!!!

Tam/Tom - I have never, not once, spotted a hidden Mickey without first having someone (usually a certain 8-year old eagle eye) point it out to me. Wanna know what's really sad? I have the hidden Mickey book, and I STILL can't see them. That's just wrong.

Thanks to y'all for taking the time to post encouraging words...it gives me that ol' zipp-a-dee-do-dah feeling!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Have you ever been teased unmercifully by an 8-year old? It’s goes something like this:

Lilli: “Did you REALLY not see the hidden Mickey?”
Me: “I really did NOT see the hidden Mickey.”
Lilli: “So I saw it but you did NOT see it?”
Me: “Yes, you saw it, but I didn’t.”
Lilli: “Even though it was HUGE and right THERE next to the car?”
Me: “Yes, Miss Eagle Eyes.”
Lilli: “You need glasses.”
Me: “I do not need glasses.”
Lilli: “Well, you didn’t see the GIGANTIC hidden Mickey right in front of your face, and I DID.”
Me: “I bow to your far superior hidden Mickey finding skills.”
Lilli: (dancing and skipping in front of me) “I’m the best, uh huh, oh yeah.”
Me: (under my breath) “Rotten little hidden-Mickey-finding-girly-girl-denial-way-too-much-energy-wonderful kid.”

Then, to add insult to injury, she decides that we must all ride Figment. Dani, Izzi, and I followed her with slumped shoulders, resigned to the fact that there’s no way we could get out of it. There ARE good things about this ride: 1) it’s inside, where it’s air conditioned; 2) …. Ummm…I’m sure there’s something else that’s good about this ride; it’s just escaping me at the moment.

After the ride, we did what Lilli calls, “…all the extra imagination stuff…” like directing the Figment band and taking pictures of ourselves, transforming our faces into monkeys, cats, flowers and pirates, then emailing them to various people. That part was fun. Especially when we morphed Izzi into a monkey and threatened to email it to her boyfriend. At first she played it off because she thought we didn’t know his email address. Then Lilli chimed in with, “Well, his screen name is….” That got Izzi’s attention! She learned a valuable life lesson: never let your little sister stay in the room while you’re IM’ing with your boyfriend.

Dani and Izzi wanted to ride Soarin’ barefoot, so we decided to go see how long the line was. It was long. Really long. Remember the 20-minute rule? If the rule was going to be broken, it would be for Soarin’, but both Dani and I hate, abhor and detest waiting in line. Not to mention the fact that I parked the ECV outside, and I was sure to be in a world of hurt after putting weight on my knee for an hour. That morning, we’d had the Guest Assistance Card conversation, and I decided that while I needed the ECV for long-range mobility, I’d be OK standing in lines because I’d never be waiting for more than 20 minutes. I have to admit that right then, I was kinda wishing I’d gotten the GAC.

And then *poof!* that ol’ Disney Magic happened.

As we turned to leave, an older gentleman approached us and asked if we wanted his family’s Fastpasses…Pixie Dust for everyone! It seems that his small grandson was having a meltdown of epic proportions, and the family was in a hurry to get the heck outta Epcot with the little guy. We promised to pay his kindness forward and set off for the wild blue yonder. WDW really IS the happiest place on earth!

After Soarin’, we rushed back over to the Living Seas and managed to squeeze into the last Turtle Talk of the day. Crush talked to Lilli, and she was beaming from ear to ear. She thought it was especially funny that he referred to her as the “little human in the purple shell.”

By the time we left Crush, we were just about Epcotted out for the day. In spite of the ECV, my knee was throbbing, Dani’s feet were hurting, Izzi wanted some time away from us so she could call her boyfriend, and Lilli was getting a wee bit cranky. None of this should be surprising considering we'd been going strong for 12 hours! We moseyed around aimlessly, checking out pins and other assorted overpriced souvenirs, looking at the dancing fountain and people watching while we killed time waiting for IllumiNations.

Izzi spotted a small injured bird and stopped a little boy from stepping on it (on purpose…how mean!). We found a CM who called someone to send out a bird rescue squad, and it turns out he had a twig or thorn in his wing. They took him off to Epcot’s super secret bird hospital and sanctuary to be cared for, and we all had the warm fuzzies for helping out a little bit.

In spite of our endless love affair with IllumiNations, we reluctantly decided that we were just too pooped to party any longer. We were considerably less peppy as we left the park then we’d been when we arrived 12 hours earlier! I snapped one final (somewhat blurry) photo as we neared the exit:

Buh-bye, Epcot…see ya real soon!!

Confession number 5: I really wish we were staying at the Poly…or Port Orleans…or POP!

Reflections: I asked Lilli what the best thing about our day at Epcot was, and she said it was talking to Crush. Totally awesome, Dudette! For Dani and me it was listening to the Voices of Liberty at the American pavilion. What talent! When I asked Izzi, she said it was pin trading; and I realized I hadn’t even mentioned it here. Bad Aunt Lauri!

OK, this is where I’m going to get a little bit mushy, so don’t say you weren’t warned.

I don’t have children of my own, but I’ve been blessed to have some extraordinary kids in my life. Lilli and Izzi are in that group. Izzi is your typical 13-year old in a lot of ways...she listens to loud music and wears lots of black eyeliner. She likes to dress all in black, and her hair is streaked with three different shades of blonde. She’s headstrong and can be a smarta**. But she also has a huge heart and one of the gentlest spirits I’ve ever come across. Her Disney thing is pin trading, and she collects the Mickey heads and the classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs pin set. She has all but Dopey and Grumpy, and they are the hardest to find. I found a Grumpy on Ebay and asked her if she wanted it, but she said most of the fun is in finding them herself.

Anyway, it is physically impossible for her to walk past a CM wearing a pin lanyard without stopping to see what they have. The thing about Izzi is that aside from Grumpy and Dopey, she’s not usually looking for pins for herself. She’s always on the lookout for a Tink pin for me, a Mickey for her mom, or a Disney cutie for Lilli. She is happier and more excited to find something for someone else than she would ever be for herself.

So we spent a lot of time stopping for Izzi to check out CM pin lanyards at Epcot. I admit that a couple of times I wanted to just keep moving, and once Dani had to remind her that she couldn’t just run off without telling us what she was doing. At one point during the day, Dani and I were sitting in the shade while Lilli and Izzi played in one of the playground areas. That’s another cool thing about Iz, she looks out for her little sister, and she’s not embarrassed to play little kid games with her. Anyway, several children congregated at the top of the monkey bars, and we could see Lilli showing them her lanyard. We didn’t think anything more about it, and it wasn’t until we were leaving the park that Lilli said, “It was nice of Izzi to give that boy her favorite Mickey head pin.”

It turns out that he was from England, and it was his last night at Disney. He wanted a pin to take home, but for one reason or another he hadn’t been able to get one. Izzi asked him which one of her pins he liked the best, and when he picked out her favorite, she didn’t hesitate to give it to him. After Lilli told us the story, Izzi just shrugged and said, “He can’t come to Disney any time he wants like I can.”

So, I’m changing my answer to the question, “What was your favorite thing at Epcot?” For me it was Izzi sharing the sparkle of Disney magic with a little boy she’ll never see again.


Next: Teen Angst at AmeriSuites

 

[roberrl187]

It turns out that he was from England, and it was his last night at Disney. He wanted a pin to take home, but for one reason or another he hadn’t been able to get one. Izzi asked him which one of her pins he liked the best, and when he picked out her favorite, she didn’t hesitate to give it to him. After Lilli told us the story, Izzi just shrugged and said, “He can’t come to Disney any time he wants like I can.”

Oh, that is so sweet. Good going for Izzi.

 

[all4disneyworld]

Now this is coming from another obsessive planner... I LOVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING! This is quite enjoyable and seriously if you have any time after October you should be writing books! Tell me more...

Our Grand Gathering of (11) ages are as follows: (2) 60 year old Best Friends,
(2) 33 year old Best Friends (daughters of the 60 year olds), 42Dh, 35Dh, 13Dd, (2) 12 year old DD (joy joy), 5Ds, 1Ds...whew!

We are Making the Magic Happen at WDW All Star Music September 24-30th!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Now this is coming from another obsessive planner... I LOVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING! This is quite enjoyable and seriously if you have any time after October you should be writing books! Tell me more...

Our Grand Gathering of (11) ages are as follows: (2) 60 year old Best Friends,
(2) 33 year old Best Friends (daughters of the 60 year olds), 42Dh, 35Dh, 13Dd, (2) 12 year old DD (joy joy), 5Ds, 1Ds...whew!

We are Making the Magic Happen at WDW All Star Music September 24-30th!

Well, from one obsessive planner to another: AIN'T IT FUN?!?!?! I know I'm twisted, but I actually enjoy all the preparations. Why else would I start planning so far in advance?

You guys are going to have a blast...what fun to see Disney through so many different perspectives. Of course, everyone is a kid at WDW, so it's all good!

I don't know about you, but our group of Grand Gatherers keeps growing. Every time we add someone, it means re-doing the ADRs. And I think this is FUN?!?!

Have you thought about doing a trip report when you get back? If not....think about it!!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

No, your eyes are not deceiving you...this really is another installment on the same day. I know...I'm as shocked and amazed as you are!

The truth is, I'm going out of town next week and who knows if I'll have high speed internet, so I'm posting what I have written rather than waiting 'til I get back.

Now, where were we?

Ahhh, yes....next stop: AmeriSuites!

When we decided to treat ourselves to a Disney weekend, we knew it was going to be on the cheap. Sometimes we hit the World and go ka-ray-zee spending money on food, trinkets and other assorted souvenirs and live like the royalty we truly are for a couple of nights in a deluxe resort with Mickey and Stitch wake-up calls and door-to-door monorail service. And other times we have a strict “not a penny more than…” budget. This was one of the “other” times.

I searched for an AP or Florida resident room only discount, but came up empty; so I went back to my favorite standby: Priceline. I’ve always had good luck with Priceline, but you run a risk when you click that OK button and let some unknown being choose your hotel for you. I was going for a 3-star at around $50, but after two weeks of trying I decided I’d better play it safe and got a 2 ½ star for $43 at the AmeriSuites three miles off Disney property with a bonus continental breakfast. Check-in was a breeze and we were in our room in no time. We were pleasantly surprised to find a microwave (popcorn, anyone?) and a foldout sofa bed, which Izzi quickly proclaimed as hers and hers alone. All in all, we gave it a tired but heartfelt thumbs up.

No sooner were we in the room than Mz Iz asked if she could go down to the lobby to call her boyfriend…or as her daddy likes to call him, her boyfiend. Dads are so funny. Dani told her she could sit on the couch and talk to him, and the rest of us would sit on the beds and watch TV, but that wasn’t enough privacy for Iz. What followed was a “discussion” between a boyfriend-deprived 13 year old and an over-tired mom with differing opinions on what constitutes privacy. There were tears. There was yelling. There was the, “You can talk to him IN THIS ROOM or not at all,” ultimatum, followed by, “That is SO not fair!”

At this point, I decided I should take a shower.

When I came back into the room, there was silence. The door was propped open with the safety latch, and Izzi was sitting in the hallway, which apparently constitutes enough privacy to talk to one’s boyfriend.

Ahhh, the beauty of compromise.

The nice thing about staying in Orlando is that we could sleep in a little…’til 7:30! Considering that I’m usually up at 5:30 a.m., it was almost like sleeping ‘til noon. As it was, I woke up before everyone else and had a chance to do a little reflecting.

This date, May 7, is significant for me, which is why I’ve mentioned it being my re-birthday. I’m a cancer survivor, and May 7 is the date I got my cancer-free diagnosis. I went through three years of treatments, drugs, biopsies, and invasive procedures. There were good days and bad days, days I felt like staying in bed but got up and went to work anyway and days I shut the curtains, turned off the phone, and hid. I lived on hope, trust and prayer. I moved carefully through life, afraid to make long-range plans, trying always to be prepared for the worst. I don’t think you can truly be prepared for the worst…you just have to face it when it comes and get through it with as much grace as possible. Having cancer changed me. It made me realize how many dreams I have and how hard I’m willing to fight to make them come true. I became aware of how strong I am, how much I love my family and who my friends are. I know that if I can beat cancer, I can do anything. But I didn’t beat cancer by myself. I did it with a lot of help…from doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, lab techs, etc. My family and friends held me up when I couldn’t stand alone. They drove me to appointments and procedures, coaxed me to eat when I wasn’t hungry, made me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry, and motivated me to WANT to get better. Cancer didn’t just happen to me…it happened to everyone who cares about me, too. So my re-birthdays aren’t just for me…they’re for all the people that made them possible.

So what does all this have to do with a Walt Disney World trip report? For me, long before The Happiest Celebration On Earth, WDW has been about celebrating. As a child, it was a celebration of magic, a place where I could hug a giant mouse, meet a princess and ride a flying elephant. As a teenager, it was a celebration of independence, a place I could go with my friends, ride in a Doom Buggy and flirt with a willy nilly silly old bear. As an adult, it became a celebration of memories, a place where I can still hear my little sister’s squeal of delight at meeting Tigger and see my kid brother, armed with his new dagger, sparring with Captain Hook in front of POTC.

When I was deciding what I wanted to do this year to celebrate, WDW was the natural…the only…choice. What could be better than spending two days with Dani, who is not only my cousin, but also my friend, and Iz and Lilli at Disney?

These are just some of the things I was thinking about that quiet Sunday morning. When Lilli woke up and climbed in bed with me, all cuddly and sweet and warm and drowsy, she said, “Happy re-birthday, Aunt Lauri.” Yep, I got a little misty then…and I’m a little misty now writing about it.

Ain’t life GRAND?

And now, back to your regularly scheduled trip report:

After much jostling for bathroom and vanity privileges, we headed down for the carbfest…I mean continental breakfast…and loaded up on frozen waffles, muffins, instant grits, and yogurt. Is it any wonder we all wanted to sleep afterwards? But no naps for us…today is Everest-Dinosaur-Rockin Roller Coaster-Tower of Terror day!!

Confession number 6: I am an excellent driver but a terrible navigator. In spite of Dani’s best efforts, I very nearly took us to Animal Kingdom LODGE rather than Animal Kingdom THEME PARK.

Once past the VERY THOROUGH bag check, we slipped through Rainforest Café to the back entrance into the park, and I got my Cadillac for the day.

AK was VERY crowded, and the walkways are not very ECV friendly. I’ve read in other trip reports about invisible strollers, and I’m here to say, “I feel your pain.” I joked that I had evidently put on my Cloak of Invisibility that morning because it was obvious that no one could see the woman in the purple Mood Subject To Change Without Notice Tinker Bell T-shirt and bright pink Crocs on the ECV right in front of them.

I am a polite, gently reared, kindhearted flower of southern womanhood, but more than once I felt like turning my back on everything my mama taught me, beeping that ECV horn long and hard and yelling, “Yo, numbskull…yes, you in the “There's too much blood in my alcohol system” shirt...excuuuuse me…comin’ through!”

Unlike our Epcot day, today we had a plan: ride Everest and Dinosaur, see Festival of the Lion King and get the heck out of Animal Kingdom. Sometimes a plan comes together…sometimes, not so much.

We were on a mission to obtain Fastpasses for Everest and cut through Dinoland to get there as quickly as possible. With Fastpasses, in hand, we noticed that there was a loooooooong line for the ride, but there was no screaming to be heard. Could it be? Had we all gone deaf? Or was the ride experiencing…perish the thought…technical difficulties? Our fears were confirmed, but we were assured that the ride would be up and running, “very soon,” so we decided to ride Dinosaur first.

I always get off of Dinosaur feeling like I need a good chiropractor. According to Izzi, the secret is to plant your feet solidly on the floor and then let your body “flop around.” Ummm…OK.

On second thought…Huh?

I think I’ll stick to my tried and true method: hold on for dear life and try not get thrown from the vehicle in spite of the seat belt. Hey, it’s worked for me so far.

At the end of the ride, Dani asked a CM to call and see if Everest was back up, and since it wasn’t and we’d had so much fun getting our vertebrae dislocated once, we decided to ride Dinosaur again. Can you say gluttons for punishment?

Everest was still down (I guess “very soon” is relative), so we made our way to Primeval Whirl, which is one of Lilli’s favorites. Ordinarily, I like this kind of ride a lot. I’m definitely a Tea Cups kinda girl, but PW is too jerky, especially after two rounds with Dinosaur, so the girls went off to ride while Dani and I tried to find a patch of shade to wait in. Shade is verrrrryyyy hard to come by in that part of the park.

We waited.

We discussed how many times the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride has been re-invented at WDW. Hey, I never said we were brilliant conversationalists.

And waited.

We watched a group of guys dressed like house painters balance on ladders and juggle paintbrushes.

And waited.

I took pictures:

Is it just me, or is Dino-Rama cheesy?

I played with the zoom feature on my camera.

Definitely cheesy.

Just how close up can I get without moving?

It’s supah-cheesy!

After two times doing the Whirl and another call to check on EE (the CMs were VERY helpful and it saved us from having to trek all the way to Asia twice), we decided to treat ourselves to ice cream and get in line for It’s Tough to be a Bug.

OK, show of hands…who thinks that Bug has the coolest queue line of all?


Next: You want me to ride Everest in the FRONT ROW?????

 

[tammyandtommy]

This date, May 7, is significant for me, which is why I’ve mentioned it being my re-birthday. I’m a cancer survivor, and May 7 is the date I got my cancer-free diagnosis. I went through three years of treatments, drugs, biopsies, and invasive procedures. There were good days and bad days, days I felt like staying in bed but got up and went to work anyway and days I shut the curtains, turned off the phone, and hid. I lived on hope, trust and prayer. I moved carefully through life, afraid to make long-range plans, trying always to be prepared for the worst. I don’t think you can truly be prepared for the worst…you just have to face it when it comes and get through it with as much grace as possible. Having cancer changed me. It made me realize how many dreams I have and how hard I’m willing to fight to make them come true. I became aware of how strong I am, how much I love my family and who my friends are. I know that if I can beat cancer, I can do anything. But I didn’t beat cancer by myself. I did it with a lot of help…from doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, lab techs, etc. My family and friends held me up when I couldn’t stand alone. They drove me to appointments and procedures, coaxed me to eat when I wasn’t hungry, made me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry, and motivated me to WANT to get better. Cancer didn’t just happen to me…it happened to everyone who cares about me, too. So my re-birthdays aren’t just for me…they’re for all the people that made them possible.


B]

As a student nurse, woman, mother and so on this made me cry! Im happy for you and glad you are at a 3 yr re-birthday!

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

...ahhh,your stories are so [over] fill with happiness and
great insights..i re-read my previous post and couldn't believe
how much i told about my true feelings ......you bring the
best out of people! it such a privilge... for all us. thank you for
wrting! [the ways you do disney is what the what
meant too be! [i have learm alot and sometimes i"feel" like iam
right there with you!]....

you have soo much character that there isn't any one that could
fill your shoes! how do i know?....my job is basically helping those
with broken dreams to put their pieces back together.....so
these lil insights are second nature.....you? take disney for what it
is and add your own special feelings! so

2000..my father-in-law was dx. with pancreatic ca [usually=death
in 6mos..or sooner]...they operated but did an open& closed..
that bad! howevr, they didn't count on his family and his will to
fight!..let see..2005..they did an alaskla cruise..it took alot of him
but he still out there enjoying life..family matters!

one of all time favotire pic was of my boys during the 20th anniv.,,
theyhave their happy disney meal pins on and it just sooo
adorable on why we go..its were the statue of mickey & walt is...
sometimes the very lil things bring out the magic!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

I'm baaaaaaaack!

Note to self: Be careful when writing your trip report at work. I very nearly put my hastily scribbled trip notes in the corporate office mail, which may have made them a wee bit suspicious about I’m spending valuable company time.

I’m just sayin’.

Okey dokey, smokey…we were in the queue line for ITTBAB, or Bug for short. I find this queue fascinating and really don’t mind waiting because I get to scope out all the cool things carved into the roots of the tree of life. And unlike the hidden Mickey debacle of shame, I’m actually quite adept at finding heretofore unnoticed species. Take THAT Lilli!

Sometimes I wonder why parents subject certain sensitive little wee tots to Bug. Too many of them start out laughing and squealing with delight and end up screaming in terror. This is NOT Philharmagic, people! Lilli is 8, and she still wants to sit on someone’s lap so she doesn’t get “stung” or feel the creepy crawly bugs under her seat. I’m a big fan of 3D, so I like Bug a lot. How many pairs of those glasses do you think come up missing every day?

After the show, we asked the CM to call about EE and were told that they were expecting it to be up and running in about 15 minutes. Score! We set off to see our old friend the Yeti. Scary shmary…he’s just a big ol’ teddy bear with razor sharp claws and a bad attitude!

The line was just beginning to form when we got there, so we decided to hold onto our Fastpasses and got in the standby line. I always get butterflies while waiting for a roller coaster. My heart pounds, and I start trying to figure out how I can get out of the line without uttering the words, “I’m scared outta my mind, and I’m NOT getting on that thing!” The times I’ve chickened out, I’ve always regretted it, so now roller coasters are all about conquering my fear. This is not my first time on EE, so I already know I can survive it…the problem is that Lilli and Izzi are all about getting me to ride in the front.

In. the. front.

I hedge. I bluff. I promise to consider it.

Yeah,right.

Suckers!

While we waited in line, we chatted with a woman who’d never been on EE and was doing the scared/nervous/excited thing. Sound like anyone you know? Of course, we told her that it was a wonderful terrific fast scary awesome coaster, and Lilli promised her she would not be turned upside down…that’s what RNR is for! She looked like I felt…like she wasn’t going to give the Yeti the satisfaction of making her hurl!

Thanks to the short line, we were strapped into a runaway train in search of the Yeti in no time flat. I was granted a reprieve from the trauma of the front seat because Iz and Lilli claimed it. Close call!

EE is my favorite Disney roller coaster. It’s fast and thrilling, with detailed theming and a scare ten years off your life monster. I love being able to see ToT and the water tower from the top and that heart stopping pause just before it careens out of control backwards into the dark belly of the Yeti’s mountain lair. I’m not a coaster screamer…well, except for a healthy “Wooo hooooo” at the beginning and a heartfelt “Ohhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyyyyy Gaaaaahhhhhhhd” at the last big drop. During the rest of the trip, I’m fully into the ride…it’s down to just me, the track, and the Yeti. And it’s amazing!

We met up with Lilli and Izzi as we got off the ride, and they immediately started chanting, “Again, again, again!” Fastpasses in hand, we headed back to the queue with Lilli tugging on my hand, telling me how fabulous it is to ride in the front and insisting that I do it. All I could imagine was zooming down that last big drop and feeling like I was going to kiss the track…my palms got a little sweaty just thinking about it.

Izzi joined Lilli in begging me to ride in the front, and I was weakening. In spite of the fear, I couldn’t very well let an 8 year old be braver than me, now could I? The thing that made up mind, however, was the little boy in line in front of us. Obviously a coaster connoisseur, he regaled us with the list of all the coasters he’s ridden…it was a pretty impressive list, and he said that RnR was his “best” coaster. Which prompted Izzi to rat me out and tell him that I’ve only ridden RnR once and I did it with my eyes closed, screaming “Ohmygodohmygodohmygod” the whole time. The three kids had a grand ol’ time teasing me. I showed them, though…I said I’d ride EE in the front.

Huh? What did I just say?

Dani and I buckled into the front train, and I started my silent mantra, “If Lilli can do this, I can do this.” The strange thing about riding up front was how slow it is going down the first drop…the baby drop Izzi calls it. We just sorta rolled gently down the slope…after that, though, it got seriously GOOD. When you get to the broken, ripped up end of the track, it really feels like that train is going right over the edge! The backwards part is more intense, and it felt colder and more eerie. And that big drop at the end? Great googly moogly! What a rrrrrrussshhhhhh! I got off of that ride feeling like the Coaster Queen…bring it, coaster designers!

NEXT: Turkey Legs, Warthogs, and Can it get any hotter???

 

[Grammyof2]

SNAP -

Geez where have I been? Let me just say, and don't tell anyone, I have never rode RNR. Never or TOT either. Major chicken here. May be forced to when my cyber friends are watching, but I may just plan a potty break at the perfect time. Not much of a teacup kinda girl either.

3 -D glasses? ummmmm you aren't suppose to keep them?
That is why I DIS, cause you learn something new everyday.

Are we ever going to see you? Or are you really Delta? Loving the Pics as always.

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Well, I was trying to stay invisible so my superhero identity would be safe.

Guess someone else will have to save the world now.

Curious chicks can check out the Strom.

Ride RnR....it'll scare you silly and remind you why life is suh-weet!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Super short chapter today. I'm like the white rabbit...you know, "I'm late, I'm late...." Only I'm never late so it's makin' me nuts.

Umm. Nuttier.



On with the show!

Remember our plan for the day? Everest, Dinosaur, FOTLK and out!

Yeah, well, it was a good plan in theory.

So, with half a day gone and still no FOTLK, we set off for Camp Minnie Mickey to see the best show on Disney property, with a stop along the way for turkey legs. We are big fans of turkey legs…the perfect portable lunch. We made it just in time for the next show…no waiting is a good thing…but we had to stow the turkey legs in Dani’s backpack. Lemme tell ya, that back pack was smellin’ pretty darn tasty!

As always, the show was phenomenal. We were seated in the giraffe section, but, honestly, Pumba and crew were having way more fun. I definitely experienced a case of warthog envy…but I’m in therapy and expect a full recovery. The FOTLK performers are, in a word, astonishing. We had some really fun interaction with the monkeys, and Lilli was chosen to be in the parade of children around the theater. She was groovin’ and shakin’ with the best of them…go Lilli, go Lilli, go, go, go Lilli! FOTLK is a symphony of sight and sound, and no matter how many times I see it, I can’t wait to see it again.

There was traffic jam of monumental proportions outside the theater…strollers, bodies, and ECVs all crammed together and jostling for space in the 104 degree heat. Yes, that’s right, 104 degrees. Here’s a little 4-1-1 for ya: it is ten degrees hotter at Animal Kingdom than it is anyplace else on Disney property because all the foliage creates a greenhouse effect and holds the heat in.

In the immortal words of Paris Hilton: "That's hot."

Rather than fight the crowd, we decided to duck into the Pocahontas and her Forest Friends show. It was lots cooler in there because of the canopy and fans, and best of all, we could munch our turkey legs while we learned about the circle of life. My opinion is that Grandmother Willow is creepy, and I could live without the snake but the racoon ("Look, it's Meeko!") is adorable. Like Lilli said, “OK, I learned something. Cool. Can we go to Disney Studios now?”

Heck yeah, we can…we’ve got a coupla thrill rides to conquer!

Next: The End!

 

[tammyandtommy]

I think I am going thru withdrawl, got any more for us?

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Oh, tammyandtommy....you made my day! I've been gone for so long that I figured nobody even remembered by trip report-slash-blog. I am SO doing a happy dance!

I don't know if I can remember exactly how that day so long ago went, but I'll reach wayyyyyy back into the recesses of my memory and see what happens.

Ah yes....we were plum tuckered out from traipsing around Animal Kingdom....but not too tired to take on ToT and RnR bay-bee!!!! We bid a fond fare thee well to EE, and devised our plan of attack as we made our way to the car. It was decided that we would go to DS and ride ONLY ToT and RnR, then make a mad dash for home.

With nothin' but our APs and our smiles, we waltzed into the park and made a beeline for ToT. It felt really weird to go in without a backpack (Dani) and fanny pack (me).

I know the fanny pack isn't stylish. So sue me.

We were humming the Twilight Zone music as we made our way through the empty queue line....until Lilli made us stop because we were creeping her out. She loves ToT, but she never fails to get batterflies (those really BIG butterflies) and threatens to take the chicken exit every time. Truth be told, I get batterflies, too, but they're thrilling cuz I love me some Tower of Terror!

The theming for ToT is amazing, but we zoomed through so quickly there was no time to stop and appreciate the authenticity and level of detail. Suffice to say it really feels like a haunted hotel trapped in time. Before we knew it, we were strapped into our elevator and ready for action. Lilli was squeezing my hand and asking, "Are you scared, Aunt Lauri?" Which, of course, means, "I'm scared, Aunt Lauri!"

We bounced. We screamed. We bounced some more. We screamed some more. Some people looked like this: But not us. We looked like this:

WHAT A RUSH!!!!​

So now we've got our adrenaline flowing like crazy and we're headed for Rockin' Roller Coaster!

Ruh roh rorge.

I am a thrill ride weinie, and I am afraid of Rockin' Roller Coaster.

So, what's a thrill wide weinie to do? Why, lollygag of course! I'm a most excellent lollygagger and not a bad meanderer either. I pointed out every CM with a lanyard that I saw to Iz because she HAS to check out their pins. I stopped when Dani scowled at me.

Because I was deviating from The Plan.



Before I knew it, we were standing in front of the ginormous guitar, looking at a deserted queue line.

Yes, deserted.

Dwats!

Why oh why did I promise to ride this instrument of torment and with my eyes OPEN no less?

Izzi and I strapped into our deathmobile...in the very last row and vrooooooooooosh we were launched at warp speed into madness. The music is awesome. I even didn't hate the loop-de-loops, and I kept my eyes open. Unfortunately, my head was being banged around, bouncing off the head rest and against the shoulder harness.

Not good.

We disembarked, and I was feeling a little green around the gills, so when Dani, Iz and Lilli went to ride again, I decided to sit out another go 'round in the limo from Hades. I found myself a shady spot on the wall and concentrated on not being sick. I was feelin' a bit like this guy and didn't mind having a little bit of time to people watch and question my sanity.

I was still questioning when they came out, all jazzed because they had successfully cheated death again and wanted to celebrate by riding ToT again.

Remember me? My stomach told me in no uncertain terms that I would be very sorry if I rode, so I sadly took a pass and hung out in the ToT dump shop while they went.

Sometimes life just isn't fair.

The next time I ride RnR, it will NOT be in the back seat!

Yep, there will be a next time.

After two more on ToT, we treated ourselves to smoothies and made our way out of the park. It's kinda sad leaving...even when you know you'll be back again. But the fun part is the ride home because we got to talk about all the fun we had and the great things we did.

We're also pretty jazzed about the fact that we'd be coming back with a whole bunch of Disney neophytes. Nothing is more fun than sharing a little insiders magic with newbies!

So, there you have it....the two-day adventure that took four months to tell! What's up with that?

The Grand Gatherers' adventure starts in THIRTY days, and we are ALL so excited! We are burning up the phone lines between Florida and Virginia with talk of what we're going to do, where we're going to eat, and how much fun we're going to have! The best part of all is that both of my siblings, their kids, and my mom are going to be there. Plus Dani, Izzi and Lilli of course.

Iz and Erica are fast friends and are plotting a little alone time in the parks. We'll see how that works out for them.

Lilli asked me the other day if we could "sneak" in a day trip to WDW before we all go, and of course I'm all for it...that's what APs are for, right?

Stay tuned....you never know what might happen!!