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

[jordanyosh]

Get pictures at PPP.

I would've liked to see pouty pix of you....

Can't wait for pix of TL and how you enjoyed it.....

 

[Charleston Princess]

I would've liked to see pouty pix of you....

Wouldn't happen -- I am the keeper of the camera! There will never be photographic evidence of my outbursts.
My tantrums are the stuff of family legends -- my dad still brings up one that happened in Paris when I was ten.
Last June at WDW, it happened during the rainstorm that stranded us in Mousegears. I was convinced that we would lose our Coral Reef ADR and had a melt-down (again quietly to Charles) right there. Stress and me on vacation: not a good mix.
I am trying to learn to go with the flow, and it works most of the time. I just have a hard time with being thwarted -- it's the control freak in me.

Can't wait for pix of TL and how you enjoyed it.....

It was our favorite part of the entire trip!

 

[stagemomx3]

I am trying to learn to go with the flow, and it works most of the time. I just have a hard time with being thwarted -- it's the control freak in me.

I think you are my twin!

Sorry you missed the fireworks. They are wonderful, but I don't think I would wait in rain for them.

 

[Native NYer]

Great P&PP pics

So sorry you missed two photo ops and the fireworks. The unpredictable Florida rain is a nightmare for obsessive planners.

I've had mini-tantrums myself when my plans aren't going well. You always need another adult to listen to you vent. For some reason, venting and having a meltdown to a child never seemed like a good idea for me

I have a new unexpected change of plans coping strategy. When your plans change in a given park, leave park immediately, do not stop for souvies, do not trade pins, and head over to the Poly for a lapu lapu.

 

[TarzansKat]

Woo hoo! I love it when I wake up in the morning and after getting DS his breakfast, settle down at my computer .... and there's a new installment! Thanks for making my morning filled with pirates and princesses! Sounds like it was fun, and hey, we all have meltdowns sometimes. We're only human, takes a real person to admit to them. I have been privy to one or two myself on vacations, and try to get back to that go with the flow attitude.

 

[MouseEarsForLife]

Sounds like you had a blast at P&PP.. or is it now MP&PP (Mickey's). Anywho great pictures the party looks like a lot of fun. I've seen pictures of the parade before but it just looks so darn cute!
Don't worry about the whining, you were probably tired and whatever, it happens. Bummer you didn't get to see the fireworks, but you know what that means? (Special Trip next year to see them, duh)

And also, something I can relate to- Pirates of the Caribbean being CLOSED while we are visiting! Ah that makes me so sad I mean I've already had a chance to see the updated version, but it also makes me wonder where the crowd that would be in that line will go. I assume Jungle Cruise or something else in the Adventureland area. Oh boy.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I think you are my twin!

Sorry you missed the fireworks. They are wonderful, but I don't think I would wait in rain for them.

I think we are twins, too!

I am so silly about things like leaving early, that I was making myself feel better by noticing that there were lots of other people leaving after the parade. Somehow, that made me feel a little better.

I've had mini-tantrums myself when my plans aren't going well. You always need another adult to listen to you vent. For some reason, venting and having a meltdown to a child never seemed like a good idea for me

No, I had enough wits about me to realize that I didn't want the kids' night ruined by me pitching a fit.

I have a new unexpected change of plans coping strategy. When your plans change in a given park, leave park immediately, do not stop for souvies, do not trade pins, and head over to the Poly for a lapu lapu.

I am liking it...I think I will put the sage piece of advice in my trip binder!

Woo hoo! I love it when I wake up in the morning and after getting DS his breakfast, settle down at my computer .... and there's a new installment! Thanks for making my morning filled with pirates and princesses! Sounds like it was fun, and hey, we all have meltdowns sometimes. We're only human, takes a real person to admit to them. I have been privy to one or two myself on vacations, and try to get back to that go with the flow attitude.

It was fun -- I have gotten better about going with the flow -- it's just hard for me to not do everything I plan.

Sounds like you had a blast at P&PP.. or is it now MP&PP (Mickey's). Anywho great pictures the party looks like a lot of fun. I've seen pictures of the parade before but it just looks so darn cute!
Don't worry about the whining, you were probably tired and whatever, it happens. Bummer you didn't get to see the fireworks, but you know what that means? (Special Trip next year to see them, duh)

Yes, a redo might be in order!

And also, something I can relate to- Pirates of the Caribbean being CLOSED while we are visiting! Ah that makes me so sad I mean I've already had a chance to see the updated version, but it also makes me wonder where the crowd that would be in that line will go. I assume Jungle Cruise or something else in the Adventureland area. Oh boy.

It makes me sad, too, because it is one of my favorites ! I am trying to tell myself that it will give us a chance to do some of the other attractions we normally don't make it to like Tom Sawyer Island (Connor wants to try it) or the Enchanted Tiki Room.

 

[Native NYer]

How to fix an adult meltdown:

1. Take a deep breath.

2. Leave children with another adult in your party.

3. Head for a bus, boat, or monorail to the Polynesian Resort.

4. Head straight for the Great Ceremonial House.

5. Make your way to the second floor.

6. Walk, without stopping anywhere, to the Tambu Lounge.

7. Order a lapu lapu.

 

[nts4wdw]

I know nothing about this show or website -- I am so out of the loop!



I didn't know you worked in a bookstore! How cool is that?!?!

I read everything, too! At the library yesterday, it was slim pickings for the ones I was looking for (I have the new Mary Kay Andrews, the new Dorothea Benton Frank, and the fourth in the Secret History of the Pink Carnation series all on hold -- none of them were in ). So, here is what I ended up with:
1. Two Jerrilyn Farmer books in her Madeline Bean series -- Madeline is a caterer in Los Angeles who is always gettting involved with solving murders. Light, easy reading.
2. Bishop's Reach by Kathryn R. Wall -- part of series set in Hilton Head, SC -- again murder mystery -- a bit more suspenseful.
3. Jinx by Meg Cabot (a young adult novel) Meg Cabot is one of my FAVORITE young adult novelists.

That's it for this bout. I guess I am on a mystery kick this week.

As for what you have recently read, you know I will have to comment:
1. The Twilight Books -- LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them -- could not put the first one down -- Bella and Edward are such wonderful characters. I borrowed them from students -- they are huge in the middle school right now. Working in a bookstore, I guess you know the fourth one is coming out in August.
2. Haven't read Christopher Killer.
3. Thoroughly enjoyed A Great and Terrible Beauty -- I haven't read the sequel, Rebel Angels, though.

To add to your young adult kick, have you read the Uglies series? Those were very suspenseful and hard to put down -- I don't normally like science fiction, but these drew me right in. Also, Meg Cabot has a series called The Mediator which was wonderful (I think there are 7 books in that series) about a girl who can see and communicate with ghosts and a stand-alone called Avalon High. Avalon High is a modern retelling of the King Arthur legends set in a high school -- it is soooo phenomenal that my last unit I do with my 8th grade is centered around it. The kids love it as much as I do. Another big series right now (these with middle school boys) is The Lightening Thief (Greek myths in modern times kind of thing). That is going to be my last unit of the year with the 7th graders.

So, I guess I rambled a bit -- you found my other weakness -- books.

Books are my weakness, too. Well, that and Disney. I work at the bookstore to support my habit. The Uglies series is on my list. Avalon High is a South Carolina Book Awrad nominee (the list our district uses for summer reading) so I'm sure I'll read it before the end of the summer.

Hope you liked your picks!!!

 

[nts4wdw]

Great update! I've been known to meltdown a time or two myself!!

I'm an obsessive planner, but these last couple of trips, I've made a general plan and tried to go with the flow. It is hard!!! I'm still working on it!

I'm glad you had fun. I loved the parade pictures. Still working on Chuck for Mother's day weekend.

 

[Charleston Princess]

How to fix an adult meltdown:

1. Take a deep breath.

2. Leave children with another adult in your party.

3. Head for a bus, boat, or monorail to the Polynesian Resort.

4. Head straight for the Great Ceremonial House.

5. Make your way to the second floor.

6. Walk, without stopping anywhere, to the Tambu Lounge.

7. Order a lapu lapu.

And that's what is going to get printed and put in the trip binder!

Avalon High is a South Carolina Book Awrad nominee (the list our district uses for summer reading) so I'm sure I'll read it before the end of the summer.

How cool that it is a nominee -- I knew it was a good book .

Great update! I've been known to meltdown a time or two myself!!

I'm an obsessive planner, but these last couple of trips, I've made a general plan and tried to go with the flow. It is hard!!! I'm still working on it!

I'm glad you had fun. I loved the parade pictures. Still working on Chuck for Mother's day weekend.

My goal for the June trip is to just completely go with the flow -- there is NOTHING that absolutely has to be done -- well, except for Illuminations, Fantasmic, and Wishes (we have never seen any of them ), but aside from that, I am just going with the flow! Well, that and I have what parks we have to go to on each day. Then, there are the ADRs...

We'll see if I get through the first day with that mentality or if I turn into Touring Nazi as soon as I enter the first park.

Don't give up -- maybe, he is slowly realizing what you want for Mother's Day!

 

[BrittBritt]

I'm all caught up!

I can relate to those adult meltdowns myself. In fact, I may have experienced one of those just yesterday. I won't divulge all the details here just yet, but it involved vomit and control of the steering wheel.

I think Disney just amplifies adult meltdowns because there's so much stress about trying to fit everything in and wanting everything to go so perfectly. I think every time I go, I tell myself I'll slow down and not turn into "psycho-schedule Brittny" (as DH LOVINGLY calls me)...but that never quite happens. Funny thing is, after 8 years, DH hasn't learned that his "nickname" doesn't seem to help things...

Looking forward to TL!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I have decided what the goal is for the remainder of my weekend: finish my mini-TR. This is for two reasons: one, I only have a few more tidbits to share, and two, I have a whole lot of PTR nonsense I want to share. Included in said nonsense are an ADR change, various little craft projects, and a whole treasure trove of WDW nostalgia in the form of pictures of former trips (think 1987 and 1991)!

Wednesday, April 2 was our planned Typhoon Lagoon day. Beforehand, I was a little nervous about the whole water park thing. I don't like crowds, not too fond of parading about in my bathing suit, and a have a tiny fear of being in water where I can't feel the bottom. Also, because Typhoon Lagoon was someplace I had never been, there was the fear of the unknown. So, Typhoon Lagoon -- not the highest on my list. However, the kids and Charles wanted to go, so where they go...I go.

Also, there are no photos from TL -- yet. I left the camera in the hotel room since I didn't want it damaged by water and was not really sure what to do with it while we did slides. There are Photopass pictures, but they have been slower than Christmas in arriving. So, I will post those later.

Edit 4/17/08: Photopass photos finally came today!

Following Tour Guide Jordan's advice , we arrived at 9:45 (we drove and it was a straight shot down Buena Vista Drive). The park opened at 10:00, and we snagged chairs overlooking the wave pool on the right-hand side (thanks, Jordan ). The kids immediately went for the wave pool.

Typhoon Lagoon was unbelievably fun!!! Really!!! It was the highlight of our trip!!! We did every single thing that we could do except for the family raft ride (the wait was 40-minutes) and Shark Reef. My favorites were the raft rides. So, now one of the latest dilemmas is do we do TL again this summer? Will it be too hot and too crowded to enjoy?

Here are some odds and ends:
Crush n' Gusher: Connor wasn't tall enough so I happily played in the wave pool with him while Charles and Chelsea rode. Chelsea said her behind hurt for two days afterwards. Here's our photopass pic of Chelsea and Charles coming down -- even after bumping along at 30 mph, Chelsea managed to put on her "photo smile." She's such a ham!

Humunga Kowabunga: Again, Connor wasn't tall enough. Charles and Chelsea rode it twice. Chelsea, my daredevil of a child, actually had to be talked into going the second time. I guess that drop in 10 seconds is a bit much.
Lazy River: I don't remember the name of it, and I am too lazy to look it up. Not very relaxing as it was jam-packed, but a neat way to float along and see the park.
Leaning Palms: Food was good and the refillable mug was the best investment. Our chairs were near one of the refill stations, and we definitely got our money's worth.
Wave Pool: The kids loved it! They would wait for the wave and then swim it. Hours afterwards Connor said he could still hear the wave coming and the people screaming in his head.
Theming: In true Disney fashion, TL is themed to the hilt. We really got a kick out of all the details that went into making this place look like it had been hit by a typhoon.

We stayed until mid-afternoon and then headed back to the hotel. There we went to WOD one more time, had dinner at the Pepper Market, and played at the pool until it was dark. We would have to leave the next morning.

 

[jordanyosh]

I'm glad TGJ was able to hook you up....

 

[BrittBritt]

We did every single thing that we could do except for the family raft ride (the wait was 40-minutes) and Shark Reef.

You know I still can't do Shark Reef? I've chickened out every time I've been to TL. I know the fear is silly. I see the young children bravely swimming across the water, but I lose it once my feet hit the water. Then I do the walk of shame to return my mask.
I know logically that Disney would never design an attraction where people might be eaten, and I'm sure no one has been eaten yet (or else we'd have heard about it here). But, people snap all the time. What's to say one of those sharks won't have a bad day and take it out on some unsuspecting tourist?
I know, I know, I'm ridiculous...but these are still SHARKS we're talking about...

 

[jordanyosh]

Castaway Creek is the Lazy River....

The thing that I've heard about summer...everyone goes right at opening and then leaves mid day...if you were to arrive at 2:30pm or 3:00pm, everyone else is leaving....It's still hot.

The only thing that is a bummer--afternoon thunderstorms. So it is a bit risky to go in the afternoon......

Just some thoughts.....

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'm all caught up!

I can relate to those adult meltdowns myself. In fact, I may have experienced one of those just yesterday. I won't divulge all the details here just yet, but it involved vomit and control of the steering wheel.

I think Disney just amplifies adult meltdowns because there's so much stress about trying to fit everything in and wanting everything to go so perfectly. I think every time I go, I tell myself I'll slow down and not turn into "psycho-schedule Brittny" (as DH LOVINGLY calls me)...but that never quite happens. Funny thing is, after 8 years, DH hasn't learned that his "nickname" doesn't seem to help things...

Looking forward to TL!

Oh, I can't wait to hear about a meltdown that involved vomit!!!

Trust me, Charles and I have been together for 15, married for 12 1/2, and he hasn't figured out all the warning signs yet! You would think...

I'm glad TGJ was able to hook you up....

You have made a believer out of me!

So, what are your experiences with water parks in June? Too many people or manageable?

 

[MomofCKJ]

My kids are dying to go to a water park at Disney. Truth be told, they scare me! I am not a huge water fan. And my youngest can't swim yet and my middle is thisclose and probably this will be the summer she can really go deep without us being nervous nellies. I just think I'm going to wait till they are all old enough to go on everything and for me to not have to worry about them drowning. It sounds like you all had a memorable time! In the summer I would bet they would be packed but one never knows I suppose!

Sorry you missed the P&PP fireworks. That is reason enough to go back to the party again in the future right? That is how I look at it!

Allyson

 

[Charleston Princess]

You know I still can't do Shark Reef? I've chickened out every time I've been to TL. I know the fear is silly. I see the young children bravely swimming across the water, but I lose it once my feet hit the water. Then I do the walk of shame to return my mask.
I know logically that Disney would never design an attraction where people might be eaten, and I'm sure no one has been eaten yet (or else we'd have heard about it here). But, people snap all the time. What's to say one of those sharks won't have a bad day and take it out on some unsuspecting tourist?
I know, I know, I'm ridiculous...but these are still SHARKS we're talking about...

I am right there with you -- that and the way the CMs were saying swim straight across and do not stop. No, thanks!

Castaway Creek is the Lazy River....

The thing that I've heard about summer...everyone goes right at opening and then leaves mid day...if you were to arrive at 2:30pm or 3:00pm, everyone else is leaving....It's still hot.

The only thing that is a bummer--afternoon thunderstorms. So it is a bit risky to go in the afternoon......

Just some thoughts.....

As you were posting, I was posting so it looks as if I wasn't even paying attention -- weird DIS lag!

I hadn't even thought of mid-afternoon -- good idea! The thunderstorms seem to move through pretty fast though.

Thanks!

My kids are dying to go to a water park at Disney. Truth be told, they scare me! I am not a huge water fan. And my youngest can't swim yet and my middle is thisclose and probably this will be the summer she can really go deep without us being nervous nellies. I just think I'm going to wait till they are all old enough to go on everything and for me to not have to worry about them drowning. It sounds like you all had a memorable time! In the summer I would bet they would be packed but one never knows I suppose!

Sorry you missed the P&PP fireworks. That is reason enough to go back to the party again in the future right? That is how I look at it!

Allyson

I am the same way -- this was the first time I wasn't afraid they would drown -- they have had swimming lessons every summer for years, but I still get kind of tense. This was actually the first trip where I was able to sit and read while they swam at the resort pool.

Already dreaming of a redo on the P&P. Maybe...

 

[TarzansKat]

I am loving that you had a great time at Typhoon Lagoon. Typically, I don't do water parks, but one time, my sister, who is seven years older, decided to take me by herself on one of the days of a trip. I was 10, she was 17. We had so much fun! I do remember us floating around lazily, so that must have been the river, and we had a great time just the two of us.

I haven't been back since, but I have very fond memories of it.