The MKFan family’s Dec Trip-Day 3: Where we try to get some Dinner and Cousin Andy

[MKFan-PR]

The MKFan family’s Dec Trip

The cast:

MKFan-PR: Me, 35, Disney maniac since my first trip way back when I was 5. This was my 11th trip, the 7th with my DW, the 3rd with our DD. I love planning, but I’m no commando. I go to WDW to relax.

DW, 39. This is her 8th trip total. We really enjoy being here. And she loves the fact that she’s becoming an expert.

DD, 4. We’ll call her Non-Stop, since she literally was during the trip. This is actually her 3rd trip, but it will also be her most memorable, since she was 9 months and 3.5 YO on her two previous ones.

Day 3 – Nov 30: Where we try to get some Dinner and Cousin Andy

What is this thing? I can’t move. This bed is supposed to be big and comfy.…Oh, it’s Non-Stop. She changed from her bed to ours during the night. She does that at home. But in here? Girl, you’re right beside us! We’re in the same room! What else do you want?!!

Anyway, I get up and go to the balcony to check the…BBRRRRR! TOO COLD!
I hope it goes up later, like it did yesterday.

Non-Stop is also up, so we watch some TV. She enjoyed the ‘7 must sees’ also, after which she settled for her dose of Playhouse Disney. I get dressed and while DW changes, Non-Stop and me unpack and store everything in the drawers and the closet. DW is in charge of packing. In all our vacations everywhere, she does, because she is very thorough, and never leaves anything. My job with the suitcase is just to get it from the closet, close it when she’s done, and lug it around on vacation. Oh, and preparing the handbag with the toiletries (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.). Which brings me to this…

After we’re done unpacking, I want to shave. My face looks (and, according to DW, also feels) like a Brillo pad. Only one problem. I have shaving cream, but no razors! Arrrgghh! I have only one job to do, you figure I could get it right!

So, of I go to the Sundries shop (Trader Jack’s) and I buy 2 disposables. The lady at the counter asks me ‘Would you need any shaving cream?’ Oh, no. I brought THAT.


I also buy an autograph book and a HUGE pen (to make life easier for the characters), so that Non-Stop can get some autographs. On the way out I check the pressed penny machine, and I get one for Non-Stop. The pressed pennies were a hit, and it was a quite inexpensive souvenir. (Hint, Hint) She was really excited and every time she saw a machine she wanted one.

I shave (smooth as a baby’s…well, you know…), while DW and Non-Stop watch some Univisión. We then move along to Captain Cook’s for breakfast. At home I don’t normally eat breakfast, but on vacation here, I need it. We have some egg-croissant sandwich (great), French toast sticks (good), some fruit, and Non-Stop has ‘Color Corn Flakes’ (i.e. FrootLoops).

So, off we go to our favorite mode of transportation…the Monorail! Today’s plan is to go to MK. Since it closes at 6 for the first MVMCP, we’ll then go to Epcot to finish the day ad catch Cousin Andy at the CP.

As we enter MK, we get our traditional photos in front, and look around at the 75 mickeys. They’re pretty cool. They are roped off (which is necessary, I think), but that takes away from it a little. At that time, the Railroad comes in, and Non-Stop is amazed. ‘Wow! Daddy look! I want to get on that train!...’ We then enter and get our guides, and proceed to go up to the station, where we park the stroller and await the next train. Not many people here. I’m hoping that this being Sunday, the Thanksgiving crowds will go down.

We enjoy the ride. We have to do the full loop, because we have to get the stroller back. On the way, I tell Non-Stop about another train, the one she saw this morning on TV. The one that goes fast and ‘swoosh’. It’s BTMRR, and I’m psyching her up. DW looks at me funny. ‘You’re going to take her?’ ‘Of course, if she’s tall enough’. DW doesn’t like roller coasters much. And she’s worried about Non-Stop. But Non-Stop is really psyched, and she went on and on all day ’now are we going on the fast train?...now are we going on the fast train?’. I’m worried now about the ‘tall enough’ part. The last time she went to the doctor she measured 38”. Will she be at least 40” now?? Stay tuned, we’ll find out later…

As we exit the train, we decide on a route: since we did Fantasyland last night, we’ll go through Adventureland, looping through Frontierland, Liberty Square, and go on, maybe to Mickey’s Toontown.

In the Main Street plaza we find some characters, and Non-Stop gets autographs and pictures from Pinocchio, Rafiki, and others. While we’re done DW goes to the restroom, and Non-Stop and me wait for her on a bench. We talk. DW and me are amazed at how we can talk with this little child, and how much she understands what we’re trying to teach her. Anyway, as the characters are leaving, she's waving to them, and saying ‘Adios!, Adios!...’ When the characters don’t respond, she gives me a frustrated look, and says ‘they don’t look!’. I tell her that it’s because you have to say it in English. So she goes ‘Aaah’…’Bye!, Bye!’. And somehow, Pinocchio, who was leaving then, turned, then waved goodbye! She looked at me with a bright face, like I was the coolest, wisest dad in the world! (Smart kid! ).

So, we’re off to Adventureland, where we proceed to one of DW’s favorites, the Jungle Cruise. I know the spiel by heart, but I always like it. The lady skipper today, somehow wasn’t into it. She tried, but she didn’t have…I don’t know…the ‘moxie’ to pull it off…anyway, I think I’m rambling now.

After the Jungle Cruise we went to the Magic Carpets, where there was Genie and Jasmine. So, on to the line to get autographs and pictures. Non-Stop looked so cute in the lines, with her big book and shy face. She gets the autographs, poses, then waves goodbye. Then she returns to being the Non-Stop that we know: ‘Let me see what they wrote!...Let me see!...See Daddy? I wasn’t scared!...’ Awwwww. She’s so cute you want to eat her with some crackers and strawberry jam .

We finally ride the Magic Carpets. After Dumbo last night, Non-Stop wants to try her hand at ‘driving’. It was fun, but quite short. After that, on to another one of our favorites, PotC. We loved the movie, and we always look forward to this ride. Non-Stop says hi to the parrot, and after a short, 10 min. wait (see…the crowds are getting thinner), we’re on our boat. And for the first time ever I manage to keep my eyes open on the initial drop. Don’t ask me why, but I just always close them. Although dark, Non-Stop likes it. To ease her in, we tell her ‘it’s only a few big dolls…’. So now she classifies the rides as ‘movies’, ‘dolls’, or ‘trains’.

The little elf inside my tummy is going ‘feed me…feed me…’. So, after confirming that is the case with the ladies too, we head to Pecos Bill’s for food. Burgers and chicken strips are good, both in our opinion, and in the opinion of the birds that were all around us at the outside tables. But, this being WDW, the birds were quite polite, waiting for people to finish or to drop something before snatching food (Don’t look at me like that…it’s true!).

We then go to BTMRR, because Non-Stop really wanted to get on (Ok, Ok, I also wanted to get on… ), but the line was 45 minutes long. We went to get some FPs, but they ran out just then. Arrrrrrgh! Should have gotten them before eating. *%^&$ tummy elf!

We decided to go to the HM, and maybe IASW or Peter Pan, and then go back to see if the line had thinned. Non-Stop was…um…a bit disappointed by this turn of events. But not much. Just on the brink of nuclear meltdown. I promised we’d come back later if she behaved. Through the tears, she said ‘Ok’. The road to the HM was then uneventful.

With a short wait, we’re now right about to enter the HM. When suddenly DW notices that the Madame Leota gravestone is moving. ‘You’re crazy, honey. That doesn’t move.’ ‘Yes, it just did.’ ‘No way’. Suddenly, Madame Leota opens her eyes, blinks, looks around, then closes them! All three of us were surprised. DW asks ‘did you know it did that?’. I stammered ‘Um…No’. Then she looks at me with the most sarcastic grin I’ve seen on her in our almost 10 years of marriage bliss…’Well…the Disney expert…didn’t know that tiny detail…’ . You’ve wounded my pride. I’ll get you back, woman! ).

After the ride, we go to IASW (‘more dolls’). We think about Peter Pan, but the line is too long. We backtrack to Frontierland for BTMRR. We approach the measuring thingy and… YES! Non-Stop is a good 2” over the limit. So we climb up, while DW gets some popcorn to wait for us and wave at us from the ‘terrace’ area by the exit.

Non-Stop is excited. Once she gets into the train, she gets a little nervous. Hey! Same thing happens to me when I’m trying a new ride. I’m so proud!

Safety-conscious parent that I am, I put my arm over her. She grabs both my arm and the lap bar.

Off we go! She’s in a zone right between exhilaration and panic. The changes her face goes through are priceless! Once we pass the area where DW is looking, she waves, then grabs on to the lap bar again.

When we’re done I ask her…’did you like it?’…’YES!’. As we exit she runs to Mommy to tell her about her adventure ‘Did you see me? First it went like this…then like this…I was scared…but then I wasn’t scared anymore…’. Hope I can teach her that outlook about life!
rolleyes: …sorry, I’m rambling again).

We go to Splash Mtn, but they had just closed it. I get some more pressed pennies for Non-Stop, while she and DW visit yet another restroom.

It’s now near closing time. We move to the exit and the Monorail, to get to Epcot and the CP. Today is my last chance to see Cousin Andy, and if I don’t, he’s gonna be mad.

We want to catch the 6:45 show of the CP. When we enter Epcot it’s already 6:20. It looks tight.

Although we’re in a hurry, we really enjoy the decorations. ‘Hey! The lights dance with the music!...And the fountain too!’ They really look beautiful.

I tell DW that we might not make it. That it might be full, and that we could wait for the
8 PM show. Non-Stop has stopped and fallen asleep in the stroller. Since this will allow us to move faster, DW convinces me to try for the 6:45. At a ‘fast-but-not-quite-running pace’, I become the Richard Petty of stroller drivers. I’m quite an expert at this, since I’ve always managed to get through without stepping on anyone’s toes or running anyone over.

By 6:40, we get to the line…and yes! There’s still room! Since the stroller has to stay out, we sit with Non-Stop sprawled across our laps. She’s comfortable enough, and we ‘tuck her in’ real nice. When this child decides to sleep, it doesn’t matter where she is; she’ll get that sleep.

About the CP. I wanted to see the 6:45 show because it is completely dark outside, and has a better effect. It was wonderful. A beautiful show. The orchestra was magnificent. And Cousin Andy, being a Garcia, of course, was a superb narrator. His voice is great for that. And I want that music! I concur with Cousin Andy…’…with exceeding great joy’ is our favorite.

Well, now that we’ve done that, there is the issue of dinner. Where-oh-where can we eat. We try for one of our favorites: LeCellier steakhouse. But without PSs, it’s already full for the night.

The PS gods laughed: ‘You Fool! THIS restaurant without a PS? We let you get away with Chef Mickey’s. Don’t tempt us again!’ .

We evaluate our options…San Angel Inn should also be booked solid, as well as R&C. The options are getting narrower. DW suggests ‘Well, the pizzas at Captain Cook’s are nice’. And then, in one of those moments that always seem to happen to us at WDW, Non-Stop wakes up, hears the words ‘pizza’, and says ‘Yes! Pizza! I want Pizza! I’m hungry!’. Well, Ok. As long as we all agree.

As we exit Epcot, we stop at the Gift Shop, where I find...Yes! The CP music! With the same conductor! We buy it, along with some stikcers for Non-Stop for later.

We leave Epcot for the Monorail (of course), choosing to watch IllumiNations on another day. We arrive at the TTC, and since the Resort monorail has not yet arrived, we use the walkway to the Poly. It’s a very nice walk and a cool way (in every sense of the word! BRRRR!) to unwind while coming back from the parks.

I leave the ladies in the room, then I go to pick up our feast for tonight: Pizza, Chicken Strips (yummy honey mustard sauce), Pineapple chunks and, of course, Pink Lemonade!
We eat, the ladies go to sleep, and I play a little in the Arcade (pretty expensive for old games!). After that, I watch a little more of my friend Krista in her quest to show me the ‘Top Seven Must-Sees’.

Another great day. And the week still hasn’t started!

RHETORICAL QUESTIONS:

-Why does a FP that you really want has a really far return time, or just runs out?

-From DW: Why is American coffee so thin? We’re used to stronger coffee. No wonder they drink it in those large cups! You have to drink a gallon for it to have any effect! (She loves the Disney roast, though!)

-Is it just me, or do the Magic Carpets seem more like a ‘miss’ than a ‘hit’?

-On the other hand, why is it that we love PotC? I have no idea. All I know is that I just CAN’T miss it. For us, a WDW visit would not be complete without it.

-Isn’t Pink Lemonade great?

Tomorrow…Day 4 – Where I really appreciate Steven Tyler…

Stay Tuned!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Muy bien! Gracias.
(although my knowledge of Spanish does exceed those two phrases, the other ones I know are pretty useless here.
No hay drogas en mis maletas. Tengo hambre. Estoy embarrasada - though I am not currently, as my baby is 8.5 mo. old.)
Yup, that's about it.
Can't wait to read the rest!

 

[Linxzy]

Sorry double posted

 

[Linxzy]

Brave daughter you've got, I hope that my nieces behave that brave next week. My mom hates the coffee or agua de piringa, over there.

Disney mom, from the other phrases you can still use Tengo hambre, its helpful in some situations.

 

[IloveDMB]

Thanks for sharing! I'm really enjoying your reports and I can't wait to read more.

 

[Minniespal]

Wonderful trip report ~ Thanx for sharing.