MKFan-PR
Certified MK Freak! Work is what I do for Vacation
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2002
- Messages
- 495
The MKFan familys 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 Im 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 shes becoming an expert.
DD, 4. Well 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.
Im baaaaaaaaack!...
I am sooooooo sorry for this delay.
Christmas season has been quite hectic, plus I just finished upgrading my computer (my personal gift to me 
). Again 1,000 apologies
So, where was I? Oh, yes
Day 5 Dec 2: Where we have the loooongest and merriest day
Today promises to be a very exciting day (well see if it delivers on the promise!): well start the day at AK, then head back to the Poly to get some rest. After that its on to our first-ever MVMCP!
Non-Stop is awake by 7:30. Late sleep on vacation has gone down the toilet. Thank God were at WDW, and I can enjoy every moment, but child please!
I watch some Toon Disney with her, then I relax with the paper in the balcony. DW is starting to wake up. I decide that to save time, Ill use our breakfast strategy from last year at CBR: get the breakfast with Non-Stop while DW changes and gets ready.
I head out to Captain Cooks with Non-Stop, enjoying the walk through the very nice Poly. Were not freezing our a**es off, like a couple days ago, but theyre getting quite chilly!
We get our breakfast (Egg Croissant sandwich for me, assorted pastries and fruit for DW, and the usual fruity cereal for Non-Stop, plus a pineapple cup), then head back to the room. DW is almost ready and we enjoy a family meal in the room.
Soon we are out the door and on to the Bus Stop. Non-Stop has a ball taking some pictures of us with her disposable, and admiring the trains overhead. Then she starts saying the Please stand clear of the doors message in both English and Spanish. We proud parents smile yep, weve damaged the child until we notice that the part in English she is saying perfectly, but the part in Spanish she has trouble saying correctly! We have a big laugh. We imagine her a few years from now Oh, yeah. My parents take me to Disney so I can speak English and forget my native language
The bus finally arrives and were on to AK. As we enter we pause for some pictures of us, and for some pictures and autographs with Stitch, Timon (which turned out beautiful hes one of my favorites!), Chip and Dale, plus one with Terk. She was all alone, with no one in line. Everyone just ignored her! Hello!! I was in Tarzan! Remember? Come On! I was in the TV cartoon version too!...
As soon as we enter, we formulate a game plan (love the football analogies): since in previous trips we always enter The Oasis through the left side, heading to the Safari first, this year well go through the right, heading first to Dinoland, then Kali River Rapids (KRR). Well get the rides and shows we may have missed before.
All right Lets get it on!...
We enjoy the walk through the Oasis, then walk through to Dinoland, U.S.A. Non-Stop is by now itching to get on a ride, so we go to Triceratop Spin to complete our tour of Spin rides in WDW. After that, the ladies need a bathroom break (I should get them to write a review on the restrooms throughout WDW/MCO, with ratings and everything). I tell DW to wait for me at the exit of Primeval Hurl er, Whirl, which Im going to ride while they visit the ladies room. Non-Stop cannot ride because of the height restriction.
This is the first time that I ride this and, like with any thrill ride that I try for the first time, Im nervous. But the guy inside me that surfaced yesterday at RNR is doing a pre-emptive strike..Suck it up, you wuss! This is nothing! You survived RNR! Now be a man and get in there!.... Okay, okay. Jeez.
There are so few people today, so the line moves fast and Im in the cart-thing with a lady thats also riding because her child is too short. As the ride starts, DW and non-Stop have located me and wave from the outside. Im worried about the cart-thing spinning while going down the big drop at the beginning, but it starts spinning only after that first drop. The spinning is not that bad, so breakfast stays where it should: in my belly.
I pass on Dinosaur (Non-Stop can ride, but we think it could be too scary and would jeopardize the rest of the day), and we exit this strange land through the Boneyard, same way we came in. Tarzan Rocks is just a few minutes away (we have great timing today), so we go in that direction, only to find there was a shorter way through Dinoland! This is a nice, quiet stretch of road We have a beautiful view of construction! Apparently they are building what Im thinking could be the new Everest attraction, but at the stage of construction they were in, it could be anything.
We have very good seats for Tarzan Rocks. The show itself was nice. Its true that it has all the songs from the movie. And hey, even Tarzan himself pops in every now and then!
In truth, the skaters and the acrobatics were the highlight of the show-they were great. But the singers kept interrupting. It was nice and fun, but nothing memorable.
We trek all the way back to the jungle and into Asia. We stop for popcorn and lemonade along the way. Since there is no wait for KRR, I want to try it. DW and Non-Stop skip it and go to some shops instead, since they were a bit chilly and they didnt want to get wet.
Whoa! Wait! I could get wet! I didnt think about that! Its cold in here!
Hey, I braved RNR, Im not afraid of a little cold! Besides, I dont think Ill get that wet! Lets go!
As soon as I enter the path to the ride I see the sign: You will get wet. You might get soaked! you idiot!...
As I said theres very few people in today, so I go right through and into a raft with a couple that had stayed on. The floor and most seats are drenched. Bad sign #1.
I put my fanny pack in the center storage and get strapped. Joining us is another lady with three girls. They are all wearing ponchos. Bad Sign #2.
As we exit the first rise, the river ride gods laugh at my thought that I might not get wet I get soaked from that first spray! Soap, please! I might as well shower!
We had a lot of fun as a group. Non-Stop and DW waved at me on the bridge near the exit. As we enter the unloading area, we ask if we could go again. Yes! (theres very few people, I told you!). This time I get my revenge, as I watch others get soaked! By the time we exit our second go-round, my pants and shirt are drenched and my shoes are going squish-squish. I hear in my head the British lady in the Planning videos, the one that talks about KRR, telling me, with her British accent See? I told you! You get soaked!
Non-Stop and DW cannot believe how drenched I was. The chilly air is not that bad and actually it helps the sun in getting me air dry. I dont mind, and in no time my shirt is dry.
We go through the Maharajah Jungle Trek, where we see some awesome sights of bats and tigers (Non-Stop loves them). We then cross to Africa, to ride the Safari and get something to eat.
At KS we had a great ride. We usually see a few giraffes up close, but on this trip we instead get a potpourri (did I spell that right? I dont even buy the stuff!) of animals, including gazelles and a giraffe munching on some leaves, on the same savannah! It was quite a sight and the pictures look great. We saw lots of animals, including a lioness perched at the top of some rocks, looking for a way to get down. The lion was looking at her, probably thinking Honey, come down and get me something to eat!.
The male lion sits in the shade almost all day, while the lioness does most of the hunting. After that fact from our driver, I comment to DW: Now, thats a way to live!. DW jokingly gave me a dirty look. At least I think she was joking
After making sure Little Red was Ok (youd think theyd have given the poor elephant better protection or at least some bodyguards by now ), we exit and head to Tusker House for some late lunch. The salmon was great and the chicken was excellent. Non-Stop shared from us. Definitely not a standard counter service place. In fact, we havent had lunch anywhere else in our three visits to AK.
We have ice cream for dessert, then wander around and enjoy the African drummers. Its now almost parade time, so we park ourselves in front of Tusker House with some cinnamon rolls from the bakery (Ill be staying away from weight scales when I get back!).
Non-Stop enjoys the parade and waves to everyone in it, including the families that are in it. While she enjoys it, I take a few pictures of the parade, and a few pictures of her. Her face is lit up like the morning sun!
%*(^$# Delswife! Now people look at me like Im crazy! . But I dont care.
We have time for a couple of things before the park closes. We decide on the train to Conservation Station, since we havent done it before. Its a nice train ride, where everyone is seated looking to the side. We are in the last car, right beside the train guide guy. As we depart, he goes through the usual spiel about no eating, drinking, etc., then adds and no children crying. We look at him puzzled, then he winks at us and says always works!. Its true! Its a quiet ride all the way! (Hope I could do the same at home!)
He points interesting facts along the way. For example, the animals are all returned to sleeping quarters at the end of the day (They dont sleep in the savannah? No, they dont).
At Conservation Station we head to the petting zoo, where Non-Stop is at first a bit skeptical about touching the goats. Im supposed to touch this hairy, smelly animal thats pooping all over the place? Are you crazy, Father? But she eventually warms up to it and even gets the brush and tries some styles on the goats.
We wash our hands (of course!), then take the train back. After a few semi-frantic minutes while we find our stroller, we head out to the buses, back to the Poly for some rest (and a change of clothing for me) before MVMCP.
We originally wanted to be at MK at about 6:00 or 6:30, but if we want to hold up for the night we need some rest. So, after a short nap, and a shower and change, we head out to MK. As we enter, its about 6:45, and everyone is getting ready. We go into Tonys Town Square for some dinner, and even though its cold, we sit outside to enjoy the atmosphere.
Man, this is a magical place! Theres so much color and a great mood. Our server was great. She preached the virtues of a Squash-Butter-Something soup. We didnt order it, but she brought a little on a small bowl for us to try (she was that enthusiastic about it. We tried it and it was great! The food was nothing memorable, but the place and the ambiance and the festive atmosphere made it a great dinner!
After dinner, we stopped on Main Street and decided to stay there, since the Christmas parade was about to start.
Well, the thing is, it started, but waaaay back in Frontierland. It took more than 30 minutes to get to Main Street. The wait was worth it, though. It was an awesome parade. Even though it was quite long, Non-Stop loved it! See why daddy loves this place so much?
Its now almost time for Wishes (weve been here over two hours, and we still havent left Main Street). DW thinks we should skip it, but I heard or read that its a Special holiday edition, so we wait for it.
I have only one word for this Wishes: ohmyGod!. It was wow I have no words. I wish I was a writer to try to put it into words! As I watched, and as the fireworks went off all around us for the big finale (how do they do that!), we watched the show and Non-Stops face, and $%&##!! Im tearing up right now remembering it!! Stop, you idiot! People are staring!
See why daddy loves this place so much?
As we compose ourselves, we head to Tomorrowland. Since Non-Stop is starting to doze off, I head to Space Mountain to catch a ride. By the time I exit, she is sound asleep. DW and I share some popcorn and Cokes, enjoying our alone-quiet time (gotta take them when they come!).
Although its not quite 10:30 PM yet, we decide to head out, since Non-Stop is sound asleep and we dont want to stay up so long (otherwise shell be up very early tomorrow
and we wont, and the sparks will fly!). Even though we did so little, and didnt even get the family picture (lines were too long and Non-Stop was asleep anyway) MVMCP was worth every penny to us. We definitely need to go back on this time of the year!
We board the Monorail, heading out to the Poly to change and get some sleep. It was truly a loooooong day, but also one of the most magical (and merriest). Although she is very tired, DW thanks me for showing her WDW at Christmas.
Hey! Im the complete package! Not only Im the coolest dad in the world, Im also the best hubby ever
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS AND (in honor of one of my favorite Football writers, Peter King) THINGS THAT I THINK I THINK:
-What the h-e-doublehockeysticks is Nahtazu? Oh, Not-A-Zoo, I get it.
-Isnt that one of the lamest promotional ideas ever?
-Doesnt Dinoland U.S.A. seem forced into the park?
-I think that there are enough Spin rides at WDW. Dumbo: a classic. Aladdin: nice nothing special. Triceratop Spin: stop! No more of these!
-I think Tarzan Rocks would be better if we had more Tarzan and less Rocks.
-Do we have to see the new construction at AK? Kind of spoils the surprise!
-I think if you go on KRR, you should bring a poncho, a towel or a change of clothes. Better yet, bring all three!
-I think Tusker House is one of the best counter service places in all of WDW: great food and a great setting!
-I think Tonys Town Square is one of the best settings for a meal at MK. I also think the food could be better, but its still pretty decent.
-I think Wishes is THE best Fireworks show ever at MK. Thats my opinion and Im sticking to it!
-I think that early December is THE best time to come to WDW!
Tomorrow Day 6 Where we try the fine art of improvisation
Stay Tuned! (And I wont stay out long this time! I promise!)
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 Im 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 shes becoming an expert.
DD, 4. Well 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.
Im baaaaaaaaack!...
I am sooooooo sorry for this delay.
Christmas season has been quite hectic, plus I just finished upgrading my computer (my personal gift to me ). Again 1,000 apologiesSo, where was I? Oh, yes
Day 5 Dec 2: Where we have the loooongest and merriest day
Today promises to be a very exciting day (well see if it delivers on the promise!): well start the day at AK, then head back to the Poly to get some rest. After that its on to our first-ever MVMCP!
Non-Stop is awake by 7:30. Late sleep on vacation has gone down the toilet. Thank God were at WDW, and I can enjoy every moment, but child please!
I watch some Toon Disney with her, then I relax with the paper in the balcony. DW is starting to wake up. I decide that to save time, Ill use our breakfast strategy from last year at CBR: get the breakfast with Non-Stop while DW changes and gets ready.
I head out to Captain Cooks with Non-Stop, enjoying the walk through the very nice Poly. Were not freezing our a**es off, like a couple days ago, but theyre getting quite chilly!
We get our breakfast (Egg Croissant sandwich for me, assorted pastries and fruit for DW, and the usual fruity cereal for Non-Stop, plus a pineapple cup), then head back to the room. DW is almost ready and we enjoy a family meal in the room.
Soon we are out the door and on to the Bus Stop. Non-Stop has a ball taking some pictures of us with her disposable, and admiring the trains overhead. Then she starts saying the Please stand clear of the doors message in both English and Spanish. We proud parents smile yep, weve damaged the child until we notice that the part in English she is saying perfectly, but the part in Spanish she has trouble saying correctly! We have a big laugh. We imagine her a few years from now Oh, yeah. My parents take me to Disney so I can speak English and forget my native language
The bus finally arrives and were on to AK. As we enter we pause for some pictures of us, and for some pictures and autographs with Stitch, Timon (which turned out beautiful hes one of my favorites!), Chip and Dale, plus one with Terk. She was all alone, with no one in line. Everyone just ignored her! Hello!! I was in Tarzan! Remember? Come On! I was in the TV cartoon version too!...
As soon as we enter, we formulate a game plan (love the football analogies): since in previous trips we always enter The Oasis through the left side, heading to the Safari first, this year well go through the right, heading first to Dinoland, then Kali River Rapids (KRR). Well get the rides and shows we may have missed before.
All right Lets get it on!...
We enjoy the walk through the Oasis, then walk through to Dinoland, U.S.A. Non-Stop is by now itching to get on a ride, so we go to Triceratop Spin to complete our tour of Spin rides in WDW. After that, the ladies need a bathroom break (I should get them to write a review on the restrooms throughout WDW/MCO, with ratings and everything). I tell DW to wait for me at the exit of Primeval Hurl er, Whirl, which Im going to ride while they visit the ladies room. Non-Stop cannot ride because of the height restriction.
This is the first time that I ride this and, like with any thrill ride that I try for the first time, Im nervous. But the guy inside me that surfaced yesterday at RNR is doing a pre-emptive strike..Suck it up, you wuss! This is nothing! You survived RNR! Now be a man and get in there!.... Okay, okay. Jeez.
There are so few people today, so the line moves fast and Im in the cart-thing with a lady thats also riding because her child is too short. As the ride starts, DW and non-Stop have located me and wave from the outside. Im worried about the cart-thing spinning while going down the big drop at the beginning, but it starts spinning only after that first drop. The spinning is not that bad, so breakfast stays where it should: in my belly.
I pass on Dinosaur (Non-Stop can ride, but we think it could be too scary and would jeopardize the rest of the day), and we exit this strange land through the Boneyard, same way we came in. Tarzan Rocks is just a few minutes away (we have great timing today), so we go in that direction, only to find there was a shorter way through Dinoland! This is a nice, quiet stretch of road We have a beautiful view of construction! Apparently they are building what Im thinking could be the new Everest attraction, but at the stage of construction they were in, it could be anything.
We have very good seats for Tarzan Rocks. The show itself was nice. Its true that it has all the songs from the movie. And hey, even Tarzan himself pops in every now and then!
In truth, the skaters and the acrobatics were the highlight of the show-they were great. But the singers kept interrupting. It was nice and fun, but nothing memorable.
We trek all the way back to the jungle and into Asia. We stop for popcorn and lemonade along the way. Since there is no wait for KRR, I want to try it. DW and Non-Stop skip it and go to some shops instead, since they were a bit chilly and they didnt want to get wet.
Whoa! Wait! I could get wet! I didnt think about that! Its cold in here!
Hey, I braved RNR, Im not afraid of a little cold! Besides, I dont think Ill get that wet! Lets go!
As soon as I enter the path to the ride I see the sign: You will get wet. You might get soaked! you idiot!...
As I said theres very few people in today, so I go right through and into a raft with a couple that had stayed on. The floor and most seats are drenched. Bad sign #1.
I put my fanny pack in the center storage and get strapped. Joining us is another lady with three girls. They are all wearing ponchos. Bad Sign #2.
As we exit the first rise, the river ride gods laugh at my thought that I might not get wet I get soaked from that first spray! Soap, please! I might as well shower!
We had a lot of fun as a group. Non-Stop and DW waved at me on the bridge near the exit. As we enter the unloading area, we ask if we could go again. Yes! (theres very few people, I told you!). This time I get my revenge, as I watch others get soaked! By the time we exit our second go-round, my pants and shirt are drenched and my shoes are going squish-squish. I hear in my head the British lady in the Planning videos, the one that talks about KRR, telling me, with her British accent See? I told you! You get soaked!
Non-Stop and DW cannot believe how drenched I was. The chilly air is not that bad and actually it helps the sun in getting me air dry. I dont mind, and in no time my shirt is dry.
We go through the Maharajah Jungle Trek, where we see some awesome sights of bats and tigers (Non-Stop loves them). We then cross to Africa, to ride the Safari and get something to eat.
At KS we had a great ride. We usually see a few giraffes up close, but on this trip we instead get a potpourri (did I spell that right? I dont even buy the stuff!) of animals, including gazelles and a giraffe munching on some leaves, on the same savannah! It was quite a sight and the pictures look great. We saw lots of animals, including a lioness perched at the top of some rocks, looking for a way to get down. The lion was looking at her, probably thinking Honey, come down and get me something to eat!.
The male lion sits in the shade almost all day, while the lioness does most of the hunting. After that fact from our driver, I comment to DW: Now, thats a way to live!. DW jokingly gave me a dirty look. At least I think she was joking
After making sure Little Red was Ok (youd think theyd have given the poor elephant better protection or at least some bodyguards by now ), we exit and head to Tusker House for some late lunch. The salmon was great and the chicken was excellent. Non-Stop shared from us. Definitely not a standard counter service place. In fact, we havent had lunch anywhere else in our three visits to AK.
We have ice cream for dessert, then wander around and enjoy the African drummers. Its now almost parade time, so we park ourselves in front of Tusker House with some cinnamon rolls from the bakery (Ill be staying away from weight scales when I get back!).
Non-Stop enjoys the parade and waves to everyone in it, including the families that are in it. While she enjoys it, I take a few pictures of the parade, and a few pictures of her. Her face is lit up like the morning sun!
%*(^$# Delswife! Now people look at me like Im crazy!
. But I dont care.We have time for a couple of things before the park closes. We decide on the train to Conservation Station, since we havent done it before. Its a nice train ride, where everyone is seated looking to the side. We are in the last car, right beside the train guide guy. As we depart, he goes through the usual spiel about no eating, drinking, etc., then adds and no children crying. We look at him puzzled, then he winks at us and says always works!. Its true! Its a quiet ride all the way! (Hope I could do the same at home!)
He points interesting facts along the way. For example, the animals are all returned to sleeping quarters at the end of the day (They dont sleep in the savannah? No, they dont).
At Conservation Station we head to the petting zoo, where Non-Stop is at first a bit skeptical about touching the goats. Im supposed to touch this hairy, smelly animal thats pooping all over the place? Are you crazy, Father? But she eventually warms up to it and even gets the brush and tries some styles on the goats.
We wash our hands (of course!), then take the train back. After a few semi-frantic minutes while we find our stroller, we head out to the buses, back to the Poly for some rest (and a change of clothing for me) before MVMCP.
We originally wanted to be at MK at about 6:00 or 6:30, but if we want to hold up for the night we need some rest. So, after a short nap, and a shower and change, we head out to MK. As we enter, its about 6:45, and everyone is getting ready. We go into Tonys Town Square for some dinner, and even though its cold, we sit outside to enjoy the atmosphere.
Man, this is a magical place! Theres so much color and a great mood. Our server was great. She preached the virtues of a Squash-Butter-Something soup. We didnt order it, but she brought a little on a small bowl for us to try (she was that enthusiastic about it. We tried it and it was great! The food was nothing memorable, but the place and the ambiance and the festive atmosphere made it a great dinner!
After dinner, we stopped on Main Street and decided to stay there, since the Christmas parade was about to start.
Well, the thing is, it started, but waaaay back in Frontierland. It took more than 30 minutes to get to Main Street. The wait was worth it, though. It was an awesome parade. Even though it was quite long, Non-Stop loved it! See why daddy loves this place so much?
Its now almost time for Wishes (weve been here over two hours, and we still havent left Main Street). DW thinks we should skip it, but I heard or read that its a Special holiday edition, so we wait for it.
I have only one word for this Wishes: ohmyGod!. It was wow I have no words. I wish I was a writer to try to put it into words! As I watched, and as the fireworks went off all around us for the big finale (how do they do that!), we watched the show and Non-Stops face, and $%&##!! Im tearing up right now remembering it!! Stop, you idiot! People are staring!
See why daddy loves this place so much?
As we compose ourselves, we head to Tomorrowland. Since Non-Stop is starting to doze off, I head to Space Mountain to catch a ride. By the time I exit, she is sound asleep. DW and I share some popcorn and Cokes, enjoying our alone-quiet time (gotta take them when they come!).
Although its not quite 10:30 PM yet, we decide to head out, since Non-Stop is sound asleep and we dont want to stay up so long (otherwise shell be up very early tomorrow
and we wont, and the sparks will fly!). Even though we did so little, and didnt even get the family picture (lines were too long and Non-Stop was asleep anyway) MVMCP was worth every penny to us. We definitely need to go back on this time of the year!
We board the Monorail, heading out to the Poly to change and get some sleep. It was truly a loooooong day, but also one of the most magical (and merriest). Although she is very tired, DW thanks me for showing her WDW at Christmas.
Hey! Im the complete package! Not only Im the coolest dad in the world, Im also the best hubby ever
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS AND (in honor of one of my favorite Football writers, Peter King) THINGS THAT I THINK I THINK:
-What the h-e-doublehockeysticks is Nahtazu? Oh, Not-A-Zoo, I get it.
-Isnt that one of the lamest promotional ideas ever?
-Doesnt Dinoland U.S.A. seem forced into the park?
-I think that there are enough Spin rides at WDW. Dumbo: a classic. Aladdin: nice nothing special. Triceratop Spin: stop! No more of these!
-I think Tarzan Rocks would be better if we had more Tarzan and less Rocks.
-Do we have to see the new construction at AK? Kind of spoils the surprise!
-I think if you go on KRR, you should bring a poncho, a towel or a change of clothes. Better yet, bring all three!
-I think Tusker House is one of the best counter service places in all of WDW: great food and a great setting!
-I think Tonys Town Square is one of the best settings for a meal at MK. I also think the food could be better, but its still pretty decent.
-I think Wishes is THE best Fireworks show ever at MK. Thats my opinion and Im sticking to it!
-I think that early December is THE best time to come to WDW!
Tomorrow Day 6 Where we try the fine art of improvisation
Stay Tuned! (And I wont stay out long this time! I promise!)
