On Day 4. Of our trip.
You see this was our plan: We wanted to take this trip kinda easy.
We had two weeks. Afterall.
But it bothered me that we hadn't even gotten to the MK yet.
First I woke up at 4:30am. Ish.
B/c of all of the beeping coming loud and clear through our door. Into our room.
Then I woke up my husband to complain.
Then I immediately went back to sleep.
Except Mellyman didn't.
So when I did wake up I found him a lil crazed with anger. Towards Me(l). And I got the usual lecture about not waking him up in the middle of the night. To chat. Or have a snack. Or check for noises, smells, floods, car windows down in the rain... or that he'd turned the BBQ off after dinner.
I also woke him once to ask him when the right time of year is to plant tulips.
That was in our first year of marriage. And the reason he forgave me. It's also the reason we have a buttload of tulip bulbs planted in our garden.
Upside down.
I'm not joking.
But... I think he was.
ANYWHO... he was pretty mad that I was able to get right back to sleep and he couldn't.
On the upside... coffee was made. And he was showered.
The kids got up and got dressed.
We had breakfast in our room. Which was PopTart Go Bars. I think that's what they're called anyway.
We decided it was time to hit a park. I had scheduled The Magic Kingdom for this day. B/c it's my favourite park. Along with the kids.
And Mellyman was WAY too tired to enjoy HIS favourite park ~ Epcot.
Heh heh.
Anyhow... we grabbed our stuff, our new stroller/backpack. And filled it with waters, spray bottles, sunscreen and assorted hats, headbands and twirly glowing toys that we wouldn't be using.
But that we just wanted to haul around. To please Tommy.
Then we headed down to the boatdock at the WL and waited for the boat.
To The Contemporary Resort.
NOT... the boat to the MK.
Why? You ask?
One word: Castle Cry.
Errr...TWO words: Castle Cry.
I wanted to board the Monorail. Not TOWARDS the park. BUT...AWAY from the MK.
To do the circuit past the TTC. And the Poly. And The Grand Floridian.
To approach the MK from the left. And grab a view of the Castle from that way.
As per our tradition.
I KNOW it's weird. It IS.
But we have a NUMBER of odd Disney traditions. Which start with arriving via the Main Gates and screaming with excitement when we pass under the arch.
We scream plenty of things: "HELLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOO DISNEY!!!"
"We're HERE!!!!!"
"Into the MOUSEHOLE!"
and...
"Hello foolish and poorly thought out hard-earned money. Squandering."
We happyhaunts also yell things when we pass through them, again, goin' in the OTHER direction.
Things like: "WHERE'S the FREAKIN' DIRECTIONS to
WALMART, MEL?"
And, "Goodbye Disney!!!! I'll miss YOU!"
And also: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty we are free at last!"!
Two outta three of those last ones are Mellyman's shouts. bTW.
So we boarded the Monorail and approached the MK in the proper way.
I may or may not have had my Castle Cry.
I didn't.
If you want to know the truth.
We've been to Disney A LOT. In the last several years. And I seem to be getting immune to the effect of seeing The Castle. Approaching from the left on the Resort Monorail.
Which makes me sad beyond belief. If you want to know the truth.
Again.
But I still feel a stirring in my HEART. That used to go along with the Castle Cry.
So there's that.
And I'm pretty glad. Or else we just wasted about an hour of our Magic Kingdom day. Getting to the Magic Kingdom via the most inconvenient route imaginable.
Someone!!! Quick!!! Ask Me(l) the fastest route to Epcot. From the VWL!!!
Now then: We happyhaunts had work to do. We had to turn in our Will Call Number at Customer Services there. And get Mellyman, Beth and Calvin new Annual Passes. Tommy's and mine were still good from our trip in the fall.
I waited in line and did that. The line was flowing pretty fast and I had the most friendly CM in the park help me out.
Me(l): I've got a Will Call number for three passes.
CMguy: What is it?
Me(l): It's long. Heh heh.
CMguy: WHAT IS IT?
Me(l): Here you go blah blah blah blah yada blah blah. Errrr... that second blah should be a yada and then I think that's right.
CMguy: Terrif.
Me(l): Do you have Guest of Honour Badges here?
CMguy: Photo id. And DVC card.
Me(l): HERE'S my id. Betcha you thought I was underage?! Huh?
CMguy: No ma'am.
Me(l): Well... I'm not. Either. I just drink plenty of water, exercise and use a nice night cr... Oh. Nevermind.
CMguy: What are the birthdates of the minors?
Me(l): November Blah. And January Yada. We have another January Yadablah. Too. But he already HAS a valid pass. I guess we didn't really plan that well. The spring can do that to you. You know?
CMguy:
Me(l): Where'd you go?!
CMguy: Here. Goodbye now.
Me(l): HEY! Where's my "Have a magical day?!", Dude?
CMguy: NEXT!
Heh heh.
Anywho... we entered the MK and Tommy grabbed himself a map. He's our Map Guy.
He likes to read them upside down.
He doesn't even care if it's the correct map of the park we're in.
It could be a map of Algonquin Park Campgrounds for all he cares.
But we let him lead the way. Muttering to himself, "Straight across down from Heaven that is how you make a 7." Over and over again.
It's all about the kids. Afterall.
And... we had a plan to take it easy and waste time. Thankfully.
As you can see...it was busy.
These are the troops heading up Main:
We dress the boys brightly. So that we can spot them easily when they get lost.
B/c they will. Even if it's just for a brief moment.
They're easier to spot if they're dressed the same. In YELLOW.
And that saves me from having to get all WOLLEY. NOLa.
So we headed up Main. Posed for our picture in front of The Castle. And watched this:
As you can see... those are both stellar pictures and I wished I'd taken three more.
Of the same.
Then we headed to Frontierland. B/c THAT is our home away from home. It would seem. NODisneyVacationClubResorts.
And we decided to get Fastpasses for either Splash Mountain. And then do the lamish Big Thunder. Or the other way around. Depending on the wait.
It turned out that we got Fastpasses for Splash. And decided to join the wait for BTMRR.
Yep.
It was gonna be quite a wait.
Luckily there was a man and his son in line beside us. That were concerned that BTMRR would be a lil TOO MUCH for him. He claimed to have back problems and absolutely HATE rollercoasters.
Fortunately he liked to talk. And was pretty funny and good-natured.
And Me(l)? Well... ditto. I do too. And I think I helped him make the right call.
He rode.
Behind us.
And... we happyhaunts had PLENTY of fun in line. Trying to convince him to turn tail and run.
Wait and see!
Cheers, Mel.
