The Pursuit of Disney Magic (June 7-14, 2008) ~ UPDATED 9/30 pg. 191

[Tinkerbellarella]

I can remember when there were no lines to meet Mickey Mouse and his appearance would entail a mad rush of kids jockeying for position (how many pictures do we all have with Mickey, ourselves, and a bunch of strange kids?)

Me too! Do you ever wonder what they're doing now?

and learned (heaven only knows why) all the songs from "Oliver and Company."

I thought I was the ONLY one. I *still* have the soundtrack.

I am a little funny (alright, a lot funny (and not the "ha ha" variety) when it comes to books. I am a tactile person, and there is just no substitute for sitting and holding a book and turning the pages of a book and smelling a book (yep, I said that -- try it -- every book has a distinct smell depending on the type of paper) . I NEEDED new Disney books to hold and call my own.

I'm sorry. Are we related?

Okay, here's the news: the next Happy Meals at Mickey D's are going to be Year of a Million Dreams Happy Meals ! How cool is that? I read it on two other posts on the DIS tonight! One said the date was going to be March 14th, but I am keeping a close eye on that! I can't wait. Not only will the kids be getting Happy Meals, I am pretty sure I will be ordering one too!

I ate McDonald's last night. And the guy taking my order had to wait while I decided whether or not to get myself one of the PoTC Happy Meals. I actually opted not to. And am kicking myself for it today.

DD: What kind of car wash are you getting?
DS: Get the one with the colored soap!
DD: Are you getting the one with the color soap? Why don't they list which one has the colored soap? I bet it is the Deluxe one. Are you getting the Deluxe one?
DS: You better go with the Deluxe one just in case! Are you getting the Deluxe one?

I had a hard time trying to think, much less read the options on the menu. I went with the Deluxe one. When we pulled into the car wash, both kids unbuckled. As it started -- I kid you not -- my children (who aren't really that little anymore -- 10 and 8) bounced from the front of the car to the back of the car following the washer things.

DD: Here comes the water!
DS: It's like a giant rainstorm!
DD: Here comes the soap!
DS: It's colored! It's colored!
DD: I can't see what it's doing! (Looks at the panel that lights up to show what part of the cycle it is.) It's the bottom blaster! Put your ear to the floor, Connor!
DS: I can hear it washing the car's bottom! He he he! (No 8-year-old boy can say bottom without laughing -- I think it's genetic or something).

This went on for four more LONG minutes...including the drier cycle that my kids pretended sounded like a tornado.

Too bad it doesn't have a monorail resort.

This was taken October 14 on mine and DH's anniversary and our first ever Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Awww. That's my birthday.

Do you ever find yourself thinking (daydreaming) as a holiday approaches how wonderful it would be to spend it at WDW? I can't seem to help it -- every single time a holiday draws near, I start daydreaming.

I found myself doing it as I stood in the Easter aisles of Walmart tonight buying Easter eggs for Connor's egg hunt on Friday. I saw in vivid technicolor the fun that could be had: pictures with the Easter Bunny at the Magic Kingdom, Easter services in the Fantasia Ballroom at the Contemporary, Easter brunch wherever.

I was in the MK on Easter Day. Once. It was 97 degrees. The park was at capacity. Believe me when I tell you, your fantasy is better than reality.

Normally I'm of the mind that any day in WDW is better than a "regular" day, but this one breaks that rule.

I received my deeply discounted ($4.29 bargain priced on Amazon) copy of The Imagineer's Field Guide to Epcot. It looks to be quite informative. I am looking forward to reading it when I can tear myself away from the DIS.

I just got this one and the one for the MK myself. I've started reading them. Both. At the same time. I'm loving them. I have quite the Disney book collection. I'll be happy to give you suggestions to fill up the 75-ish days.

I'm loving your PTR!!! It's W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L!!! And I can't wait for more.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Me too! Do you ever wonder what they're doing now?

Yes! Especially the little boy that ran up and posed with Mickey Mouse and me when I was about 6. I was mad about it then, and I am still mad about it now! (I was an only child until I was 12 so not used to sharing.)

I thought I was the ONLY one. I *still* have the soundtrack.

Billy Joel as Dodger -- good stuff, good stuff...

I'm sorry. Are we related?

I thought the same thing while reading your PTR!

I ate McDonald's last night. And the guy taking my order had to wait while I decided whether or not to get myself one of the PoTC Happy Meals. I actually opted not to. And am kicking myself for it today.

I think we may get McDonald's while on the road Monday -- just wait until you read the next update!!!

Too bad it doesn't have a monorail resort.

No kidding, right!?

Awww. That's my birthday.

One of the best days of the year!

I was in the MK on Easter Day. Once. It was 97 degrees. The park was at capacity. Believe me when I tell you, your fantasy is better than reality.

Normally I'm of the mind that any day in WDW is better than a "regular" day, but this one breaks that rule.

You're right -- I will stick with my fantasies!

I just got this one and the one for the MK myself. I've started reading them. Both. At the same time. I'm loving them. I have quite the Disney book collection. I'll be happy to give you suggestions to fill up the 75-ish days.

Yes, please!

I'm loving your PTR!!! It's W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L!!! And I can't wait for more.

Gee, thanks!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I am not sure who or what to blame. There is a long list of possible suspects:

1. I am sick. I fear it is the flu, but hopefully it is just a cold (especially given the recent turn of events). Being sick, I have a whole lot of cold medicine in my body, my immune system is worn down, and I am not thinking straight.

2. I stayed home from work today thus providing me with too much time on my hands to think. Always a dangerous thing.

3. Lori1043 posted a bunch of great pics and video from the Pirate and Princess Party. It made me want to go.

4. Tinkerbellerella mentioned in response to my comment about last requests to DH, that my last request should be a trip to WDW. I laughingly replied with what an imaginary comment to DH would sound like, "If you loved me you would take me to the Pirate and Princess Party, buy me a Dole Whip, and let me ride POTC one last time."

5. DH got his coaching stipend today, and it was more than we originally thought it would be.

6. When I wasn't on the DIS boards or sleeping, I was reading Peter and the Secret of Rundoon (the third in the Peter and the Starcatchers series about Peter Pan). It is chockful of pirates, Tinkerbell, and pixie dust.

As you can see there are many suspects for what happened next. I think I blame DH most of all, though.

Charles and I were sitting down after dinner and talking about what we should do with his coaching stipend. I jokingly said, "We could just use it to go to WDW for a couple of days over spring break -- stay a couple of nights and go to the P&PP." I was joking, I promise -- just trying to be funny in my sick state. Charles said..."Okay."



Now, this is a man who professes to not like Disney all that much. Really. That's what he says. All the time. He says he goes because he knows how much the kids and I like it. Here's what I say to that now: PPFFTTTPPP!!! WHATEVER! I now believe it is a great big act on his part, and that he secretly likes Disney as much as the rest of us. In fact, he insisted on three nights when I would have been happy with two.

I tried to be smart and not fall into the "Let's go to Disney trap." Really, I did. I tried really hard. But offering me a trip to Disney (even for three nights) is like offering a drug addict his candy of choice. It's not easy to say no. In fact, I found it impossible to say no. Even after finding out all the value resorts were booked! Even after finding out all the moderates except Coronado Springs were booked! Even then I was still trying to resist the tug and pull of pirates and princesses and jewels and fireworks and Dole Whips. I did, I really did try.

We are booked for three nights in a water view room at the Coronado Springs.
We have purchased our tickets for the Pirate and Princess Party. They will be waiting at Will Call.
We have pulled out our bathing suits for a trip to Typhoon Lagoon.
I am stressing because I have no binder, no tips for P&PP, and no matching t-shirts. I don't even have a LGMH tag made.
The kids are beyond excited -- Chelsea is already plotting to buy a pair of pirate princess Mickey ears.
I feel like Alice or maybe the Cheshire Cat, "We're all mad here."

We leave in four days. I am still sick!

 

[BrittBritt]

WHAT???!?!!!???!!!!

LUCKY!!!!!!!!!!

You'll have a TR inside of your PTR!!!

Way to go Charles! He gets DH of the Year for sure!

Are you going to try to plan anything else for this trip? We need more details here! Are you keeping it a surprise from the kiddos?

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

4. Tinkerbellerella mentioned in response to my comment about last requests to DH, that my last request should be a trip to WDW. I laughingly replied with what an imaginary comment to DH would sound like, "If you loved me you would take me to the Pirate and Princess Party, buy me a Dole Whip, and let me ride POTC one last time."

I take FULL responsibility for my actions, since they resulted in this irate: and this rincess: .

Seriously. I. CANNOT. BELIEVE. HE. WENT. FOR. IT.

Charles and I were sitting down after dinner and talking about what we should do with his coaching stipend. I jokingly said, "We could just use it to go to WDW for a couple of days over spring break -- stay a couple of nights and go to the P&PP." I was joking, I promise -- just trying to be funny in my sick state. Charles said..."Okay."



Now, this is a man who professes to not like Disney all that much. Really. That's what he says. All the time. He says he goes because he knows how much the kids and I like it. Here's what I say to that now: PPFFTTTPPP!!! WHATEVER! I now believe it is a great big act on his part, and that he secretly likes Disney as much as the rest of us. In fact, he insisted on three nights when I would have been happy with two.

I think he needs to come and tutor my BF.

I tried to be smart and not fall into the "Let's go to Disney trap."

Mhmm.

Really, I did. I tried really hard.

Sure you did.

It's not easy to say no. In fact, I found it impossible to say no.

I'm sorry, is that the crumbling of will power I hear in the distance?

Even then I was still trying to resist the tug and pull of pirates and princesses and jewels and fireworks and Dole Whips.

Riiiiight.

I did, I really did try.

Liar, liar pants on fire.

We are booked for three nights in a water view room at the Coronado Springs.

Gosh. All that effort to resist the Mouse. Gone. Poof!

I'm insanely jealous of your lack of will power and your Disney god of a husband.

We leave in four days. I am still sick!

Come now, Disney is the best medicine. I can't believe you're going to the World next week! That definitely calls for some P&PP/YOAMD Happy Meals on the way down.

I got one last night. A pirate one. I didn't win. Ah well, maybe next time.

 

[MRYPPNS]

OMG!!!!!! Disney on just a couple days notice? Cool. What date are you going to PPP? I'll try to look up so tips for you when I get home from work.

 

[carissanboys]

WOW!!!!!

That's all I can really say at the moment!

 

[MouseEarsForLife]

Wowowow! Congrats on your bit of Disney magic!

I'm so beyond jealous you get to go to a Pirate and Princess Party! This is way exciting! Are we going to be seeing a mini-TR for this adventure in your PTR for your June travels?

Ah! This is really exciting!

...Oh and I hope you feel better Hopefully by some length of Disney magic you'll be better! Sending Pixie Dust your way

Remember that the & are waiting!

 

[askelton]

Whohooty! Have fun!

Feel better soon. Maybe run to the doctor and get a sinus cocktail.

 

[Charleston Princess]

WHAT???!?!!!???!!!!

LUCKY!!!!!!!!!!

You'll have a TR inside of your PTR!!!

Way to go Charles! He gets DH of the Year for sure!

Are you going to try to plan anything else for this trip? We need more details here! Are you keeping it a surprise from the kiddos?

Yes, Charles has outdone himself this time.

I will update more tonight!

We told the kids -- we can't keep anything a secret. Chelsea screamed for like 10 minutes!

I take FULL responsibility for my actions, since they resulted in this irate: and this rincess: .

Well done!

Seriously. I. CANNOT. BELIEVE. HE. WENT. FOR. IT.

I am still in shock because I was really just joking when I said it.

I think he needs to come and tutor my BF.

Keep in mind that I have been brainwashing him for 15 years. It could also be that Charles just wanted to go somewhere for spring break, and he knew Disney would be the only place I would say yes to.

I'm sorry, is that the crumbling of will power I hear in the distance?

Like the walls of Jerico!

I'm insanely jealous of your lack of will power and your Disney god of a husband.

He is a Disney god today. I wonder too if he was hoping to score points among my DIS board readers -- but I will save that story for tonight...

OMG!!!!!! Disney on just a couple days notice? Cool. What date are you going to PPP? I'll try to look up so tips for you when I get home from work.

Please! That would be awesome! I am so lost and overwhelmed right now because we never do WDW on a whim -- I always have had months to plan and research!

WOW!!!!!

That's all I can really say at the moment!

Oh, I am feeling equally excited and nauseous at the same time. I think this may be the epitome of craziness!!!

I'm so beyond jealous you get to go to a Pirate and Princess Party! This is way exciting! Are we going to be seeing a mini-TR for this adventure in your PTR for your June travels?

...Oh and I hope you feel better Hopefully by some length of Disney magic you'll be better! Sending Pixie Dust your way

Remember that the & are waiting!

Thanks! I am definitely TRing within the PTR for this one!

I am already feeling a little better -- my dream of a Dole Whip in a few days is keeping me going.

Whohooty! Have fun!

Feel better soon. Maybe run to the doctor and get a sinus cocktail.

Thanks! I think I may be on the up and up. I don't feel like sleeping under my desk like I did the day before yesterday.

 

[nts4wdw]

Oh you lucky thing! I wanted to go to the Pirate and Princess party in January, but no one else did. I so regret not just going by myself! You have a great time! yes, it's a thumb's up, but it's green with jealousy.

 

[Native NYer]

Joining in! Now gotta go back and read

 

[Native NYer]

I read through all of your updates. I really love your trip journals and your binder. You are so crafty!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh you lucky thing! I wanted to go to the Pirate and Princess party in January, but no one else did. I so regret not just going by myself! You have a great time! yes, it's a thumb's up, but it's green with jealousy.

Thanks! I am excited, but at the same time, I keep shaking my head and thinking, "This is a really stupid thing we are doing since we are going to be there in two months!"

Joining in! Now gotta go back and read

Thanks for coming over!

I read through all of your updates. I really love your trip journals and your binder. You are so crafty!

Thanks! I enjoyed making them a lot!

 

[DWGal210]

I am not sure who or what to blame. There is a long list of possible suspects:

1. I am sick. I fear it is the flu, but hopefully it is just a cold (especially given the recent turn of events). Being sick, I have a whole lot of cold medicine in my body, my immune system is worn down, and I am not thinking straight.

2. I stayed home from work today thus providing me with too much time on my hands to think. Always a dangerous thing.

3. Lori1043 posted a bunch of great pics and video from the Pirate and Princess Party. It made me want to go.

4. Tinkerbellerella mentioned in response to my comment about last requests to DH, that my last request should be a trip to WDW. I laughingly replied with what an imaginary comment to DH would sound like, "If you loved me you would take me to the Pirate and Princess Party, buy me a Dole Whip, and let me ride POTC one last time."

5. DH got his coaching stipend today, and it was more than we originally thought it would be.

6. When I wasn't on the DIS boards or sleeping, I was reading Peter and the Secret of Rundoon (the third in the Peter and the Starcatchers series about Peter Pan). It is chockful of pirates, Tinkerbell, and pixie dust.

As you can see there are many suspects for what happened next. I think I blame DH most of all, though.

Charles and I were sitting down after dinner and talking about what we should do with his coaching stipend. I jokingly said, "We could just use it to go to WDW for a couple of days over spring break -- stay a couple of nights and go to the P&PP." I was joking, I promise -- just trying to be funny in my sick state. Charles said..."Okay."



Now, this is a man who professes to not like Disney all that much. Really. That's what he says. All the time. He says he goes because he knows how much the kids and I like it. Here's what I say to that now: PPFFTTTPPP!!! WHATEVER! I now believe it is a great big act on his part, and that he secretly likes Disney as much as the rest of us. In fact, he insisted on three nights when I would have been happy with two.

I tried to be smart and not fall into the "Let's go to Disney trap." Really, I did. I tried really hard. But offering me a trip to Disney (even for three nights) is like offering a drug addict his candy of choice. It's not easy to say no. In fact, I found it impossible to say no. Even after finding out all the value resorts were booked! Even after finding out all the moderates except Coronado Springs were booked! Even then I was still trying to resist the tug and pull of pirates and princesses and jewels and fireworks and Dole Whips. I did, I really did try.

We are booked for three nights in a water view room at the Coronado Springs.
We have purchased our tickets for the Pirate and Princess Party. They will be waiting at Will Call.
We have pulled out our bathing suits for a trip to Typhoon Lagoon.
I am stressing because I have no binder, no tips for P&PP, and no matching t-shirts. I don't even have a LGMH tag made.
The kids are beyond excited -- Chelsea is already plotting to buy a pair of pirate princess Mickey ears.
I feel like Alice or maybe the Cheshire Cat, "We're all mad here."

We leave in four days. I am still sick!

OMG!!!!! You go, girl!! WOW, I am so excited for you...

Your husband is a gem!

 

[Charleston Princess]

OMG!!!!! You go, girl!! WOW, I am so excited for you...

Your husband is a gem!

I'm excited but kind of nervous about the whole thing at the same time. Spring break at Disney??? It's going to be crazy busy!

 

[MRYPPNS]

What parks are you going to?

Does it make sense to get Annual
Passes now ??

 

[Charleston Princess]

Now that some of the shock (not all of it, but some of it) has worn off, I can concentrate a little bit more on what our impromptu trip to WDW will entail and all the surrounding details...

We are going to concentrate on just relaxing and enjoying being in our favorite place for a couple of days.

Monday: Leave home and drive down. Charles wants to leave early, so that we get to Coronado Springs right at 3:00 (he says he doesn't want to waste a night -- once again this from the man who professes no great love of the place ). Once we check in and explore the resort, we will probably let the kids go swimming at the Dig Site pool (it looks so neat with that Mayan pyramid). DH wants nachos for a snack. Then, we will probably go get some dinner and maybe go to DTD or find the character outlet. I am thinking maybe Earl of Sandwich for dinner?

Tuesday: Sleep in, get some breakfast, get our tickets from Will Call, and relax around the resort. We plan on being at the MK by four for the Pirate and Princess Party ( and hooray!) We'll probably eat at Pecos Bill's -- maybe CHH? Not sure! I know I have some goals for P&PP:

Picture at Cinderella's Coach
Picture with Captain Jack Sparrow (I asked Chelsea if she would pose with him and her response was "Duh!")
Parade and Fireworks (preferably while eating a Dole Whip)
Finding all the treasure (yes, plastic gems and necklaces )
Riding a few rides with POTC a must!

I am planning on making sure that we stay until the end (I didn't quite last until 12:00 at MNSSHP, but I am going to try this time).

Wednesday: We are going to go spend the day at Typhoon Lagoon. We were planning on doing that in June, but thought this was a good idea for this trip. In true Fuzzy Disney Math style, I thought, "Oh, this will save some money on the June trip if we do this now." DH doesn't understand that logic but is game to go hang out at a water park.

Thursday: Drive home.

Overall, I am excited, but I keep having a few misgivings about the whole thing. Thought I would list those too:

1. Coronado Springs is probably one of two resorts (the other being All-Star Sports) where we have no desire to stay. The theming is not really us. We like the look of the pool, but the size, theming, strange Pepper Market set-up is not something that appeals to us. Also, the Jaguar pool slide closes tomorrow . I keep telling myself that it is still Disney and thus, I will love it. I also tell myself that it kind of has the look of the POTC ride which I adore. Humorous comment by DH: "Do you think DeSoto stayed here on his explorations of Florida?"

2. Because CSR was the ONLY place with an available room (seriously -- the only other place was Saratoga Springs) that means it is CRAZY BUSY down there right now. That worries me because large crowds make me twitch. I hope they are all at the parks the whole time -- except Tuesday night when I hope most people have decided NOT to shell out extra money for P&PP.

3.You may notice that we aren't going to any other parks. We figured that since we will be there in two months with 7-day tickets that we could forego parks this week. I kind of feel blasphemous doing that. However, the cost of a one-day ticket is outrageous -- we do have to save money for June.

4. I am worried that it will be rainy -- weather.com calls for some showers while we are down there. I hope they are wrong.

5. I am overwhelmed at the thought of trying to pull together a trip in this short of time. Two days to do everything I need to do. So, what am I doing -- sitting and DISing. Must go do laundry.

We really are excited -- if only I could stop worrying, I would be fine.

One last question: I am trying to decide if we should go do a sit-down breakfast somewhere (at a resort) Tuesday morning. Should we even bother? If so, where? I am sure the major ones are already booked.

 

[scottny]

I loved P&PP so much. It was truly a blast.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I loved P&PP so much. It was truly a blast.

I have heard so many positive things about it! Any tips for us? Any must-dos or cool souvies that we should get?