The Ups and Downs of Labor Day weekend 2010

[annmarieda]

I am glad you didn't need stitches.

I love Zoe's hair...great job.

We are leaving for our trip tomorrow, but I will catch up when we return (it may take a day or two, but I'll be back).

Have a great trip! I can't believe this...but I some how totally missed out on your PTR!!!! It is a HUGE thread too! Well, guess it will give me something to read while you are gone!

 

[tinacaplan]

Zoe's hair is super cute! Now, you bought a stroller at DHS on your way in? we're trying to figure out the stroller situation, still.

 

[annmarieda]

Zoe's hair is super cute! Now, you bought a stroller at DHS on your way in? we're trying to figure out the stroller situation, still.

Yup, I bout it right inside the main gate. I didn't take a pic of the place but it is on Su-Lynn's TR (hope you don't mind me sharing the link, Su-Lynn...if you do I can take it off) http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38224833&postcount=76 It is called Oscar's and there is a shop directly behind the car. I think you can pretty much find these strollers everywhere in the park though (or at hotel gift shops). I really wished I had my stroller because EVERYWHERE I looked there were red strollers that the parks sell. I have mentioned before how much I like my Maclaren...I got it online. Well worth the money I paid for it. It has survived 4 WDW trip and 1 or 2 DL. I highly recommend them for ease of collapsing, when collapsed it takes up little space and the fact it really is for small children and not infants. The one I got in the park though wasn't bad...and really the price was right when compared to renting one.

 

[KatMark]

Have a great trip! I can't believe this...but I some how totally missed out on your PTR!!!! It is a HUGE thread too! Well, guess it will give me something to read while you are gone!

It is a HUGE thread because Marv and Glen like to talk a lot. Seriously, don't worry about it...if you catch the first couple of pages you should be okay. Before you know it, I'll be doing the TR.

 

[annmarieda]

In the last installment, Mom was ready to leave the park. I was worried. Kira was becoming irritated and Zoe was her happy self. We all were in line for the Back Lot Tour.

Mom was struggling and I felt bad for her. We only had a bit of a wait until we were let in for the volunteer presentation. I wonder now if it was the standing during this that put her over the edge. By the time it was over, she was starting to limp as we walked through the line to the tram that takes you through the rest of the ride. I offered her some Tylenol. She refused. Here is where my mom and I don't agree. I have no problem taking something for my aches and pains. (and I have chronic pain) She would prefer to just suffer. At this point she decides that after we are free of the ride that she wants to head back to the hotel.

On our itinerary for the day are quite a few shows. Shows that she wanted to see. I look closely at the intinerary and see that if we just make it to the Beauty and the Beast show, we can have lunch and there there would be enough time for her to have a good break and ONLY miss Lights Motor Action.

So told her if she could just make it through to the Beauty and the Beast show, we would be sitting for that and then a short walk to Starring Rolls for lunch and then sitting again. She agreed that sounded reasonable.

She made it (barely) to the show. We saw the 11:30am show.

After the show, we made it to Starring Rolls. I had read that if you get there early enough they have sandwiches that you can use counter service credits for for lunch. It was a GREAT use of a credit. We all got black forest ham sandwiches. Mom and Kira had chips as their side. Zoe had an apple. I had a banana. Large drinks for the adults and a small juice for Zoe. Then for desert; Kira had the white chocolate cupcake, I had the butterfinger cupcake, mom had a banana tirimisu thing, and Zoe had a fruit tart.

Kira and I were pretty full from the sandwiches so we decided to get the desserts boxed. (plus they were literally melting) I figured I would take them back to the room when I took my mom back. Since it was going to be her first time going back on the buss I thought I should accompany her. It was nice that DHS is such a short trip back to the hotel. It is the closest park to Pop.

So back to the hotel mom and I went. I got her situated and then met back up with the girls. They had rode TOT and had played in the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area. When I got back, it was perfect timing because Kira wanted to ride RNRC. Zoe was still to small for this ride.

We had planned to see Lights Motor Action and Muppet Vision 3D. We missed those but really, none of us were too upset by it.

Next Chapter:

Mom Returns for Dinner!

 

[annmarieda]

So my mother went back to the hotel for a quick nap. I left her there to return to the girls. We were all going to have to meet back up for a 3:10 ADR at Mama Melrose's.

I was very happy when my mother called to say she was on the bus. This was a big deal not only because she made it to the bus, but because it was shortly after getting her cell phone and she was still learning how to use it. It was however, getting very close to the time we need to be at the restaurant.

I sent the girls ahead and went to the gate to meet my mom. We just barely made it to Mama Melrose's on time. I am not sure it would have mattered if we had been late since somehow they had us down twice in their system. Since it was the fantasmic dinning package, I did not book it myself so it was totally on their end that I had two ADR's.

We were seated and had an amazing waitress. Our last trip there, I LOVED the food but service was not great. Given how nice our waitress was made me very excited about how our meal would be.

Since we had booked the fantasmic package, we got an appetizer with our meal.

Mom got a salad (I didn't get a picture of it)

Kira got the antipasto for two (yes, you can get an ap for two as your one ap)

I got the mozzarella and tomatoes.

Next up were the main dishes.
Kira and I both got the Tuna. I forgot to order mine rare and was less impressed by the medium rare serving.

Mom got the chicken Parmesan. I had seen a picture of where someone had substituted the four cheese sauce for the red sauce and so that is what she requested.

We were having such a good time eating and taking pictures. Even though Zoe didn't have as much in the way of impressive food, she was still being a very good girl.

Next came the desserts. Mom and Kira had the Crema Limone.

I had the cheesecake. Last time they had a honey hazelnut on the menu. This time it was a Chocolate Amarettini Cheesecake. It still ranks as one of the best cheesecakes I have had.

After this, the waitress decided since we were celebrating my mom's birthday on this trip she needed another dessert as well as a special hat. It is kinda a horrible scary picture of my mom. But..you had to see the hat. Plus, the dessert was my mom's favorite of the entire trip. It was Chocolate Cannoli Cake. She didn't think she would be able to eat another dessert, but she DID!!!

After such a wonderful dinner, we had a bit of time to spend in the park.

Next chapter:

Filling the void before Fantasmic

 

[Simba22]

Great updates! I love the pics of your food! And Zoe's hair looked sooo cute!

I'm so glad you liked Ohana for dinner! It's one of my favorite places for breakfast but we decided to try dinner there instead this year and even though it keeps getting good reviews, I'm nervous!

We love Mama Melrose's! We've been there twice and had great food and great service both times! That pic of your mom in the hat is great! Glad she was able to go back to Pop to rest for a little while!

 

[annmarieda]

I apologize for so many updates so close together. I fear if I don't get it all done I am going to forget something. My memory is not what it once was

So now we are ready to enjoy some more of the park before Fantasmic. We strolled a bit. Mom brought disposable cameras and took this picture. Not the best, but one of only a few of me.

We decided that we had enough time to make it to the Indiana Jones Stunt show. We got there pretty late, so our seats were horrible. We were right up near the stage, but not center. This made it so that we could see "magic" behind some of the stunts. It was so so very hot... I think we about melted while watching the show.

After the show, we just looked in the shops. We tried to stay cool. We didn't have a lot of time until we needed to show up for the 8:30 showing of Fantasmic.

Next Chapter:

Tired and Hot We End the Day of 9/2

 

[chunkymonkey]

Mama Melrose looks pretty good! We have not eaten there yet, but maybe the next time we're in DHS we will.

I'm glad Mom also made it back to DHS for the meal. She must have been so tired and hot before!
Zoe is really adorable. She looks happy all the time! I love that! Ooh, hopefully Kira will have more pictures of you? That would be great! I like Kira's Mickey tank!

Those sandwiches from Starring Rolls are ginormous! I saw them too. I like how you could get any cupcake as a dessert.

Looking forward to Fantasmic!

 

[annmarieda]

One thing to remember about this trip is I planned in advance. I subscribed to ridemax and had our plans for each day laminated. I even had a nice little binder. Once I had it all together, I didn't look back. I assumed that operating hours and show times would stay the same. After all, I made them only a few weeks ahead of time. This is what I get for NOT checking the dis boards more closely.

So we were on our way to Fantasmic. After getting our ticket from Mama Melrose's, we were set for the 8:30 showing. When we arrived, we showed the ticket and the cm dropped a rope to let us through onto the right side of the stadium. Were they great seats? No, but they were pretty good and while the rest of the stadium was quite packed we were just getting seated. (I want to say we showed up 45 minutes early)

On our way down the stairs, both my mom and Zoe stumbled. (no injuries, thank goodness!) For whatever reason, this set Kira off. It was hot and I was about to go on a snack run. I think she just worried if the two were already accident prone how much work would it be for her to look after them while I was away.

Once seated, Zoe desperately wanted popcorn. As I mentioned, I had agreed to go on a snack run to get some. The line was HORRID. I would have been better off going to get popcorn out of the stadium area. Oh well. So I wait in one line to get some glazed nuts only to realized that I would have to have to wait through another to get the popcorn.

Meanwhile, back in our seats, the girls and my mom are all getting a bit cranky. Everything one is doing is frustrating another. It is hot and I begin to get calls to ask where I am.

I return within minutes of the show starting. I guess the heat had melted my brain because I did not return with enough snacks. She and Zoe proceeded to bicker about who would hold the popcorn. I think Kira wanted to hold it not because she wanted to eat the popcorn but so that Zoe would not spill the popcorn. Mom was just thirsty, but wouldn't use a snack credit. All I could see was the cold beer going round and thinking that I REALLY wanted one. (course, no alcohol for me cause my meds...will I eventually break that rule??? )

Fantasmic was as good as ever. I did not get any great pics since my camera doesn't do dark well. Here are a couple I did get of some of the villans shot on the water.

After the show was over we then realized it was EMH and that another show would be at 10pm. Tired, we decided it was a good idea to stay since the heat was diminishing. Plus, we had missed some things that we wanted to still try and catch. We caught the Voyage of the Little Mermaid and did a quick walk through of the Animation Studio. The cool air inside the Voyage of the Little Mermaid really helped our spirits.

Zoe inside the Animation Studio. There was a display of Snow White artwork. I just love this old stuff. I had to get a picture

It was just about time for the park to close so Kira did one last push to get in the rides I don't go on such as TOT and RNRC. Mom and I took Zoe and strolled toward the front of the park. My goal was to get a photopass photo of us in front of each icon at the end of our days. I have yet to order the photopass or the pics off of it. I did get a photo of mom and the girls. Again, my camera doesn't do well in low light so...

Next chapter;

On our way back to Pop to sleep?

 

[annmarieda]

Mama Melrose looks pretty good! We have not eaten there yet, but maybe the next time we're in DHS we will.

It was pretty yummy. I just wish I had remembered to order my tuna rare. It had good flavor though. Oh, another thing I would have done different....no sea salt. It was on my mozzarella and tuna. You can actually see the crystals on the ap. plate. I didn't really care for that extra "crunch"

Zoe is really adorable. She looks happy all the time! I love that!

Thanks so much. I think Zoe is cute...and she is happy much of the time.

Zoe is really adorable. She looks happy all the time! I love that! Ooh, hopefully Kira will have more pictures of you? That would be great! I like Kira's Mickey tank!

There are very few pictures of me on this trip. I wish I had thought to do what you did. Next time I will know to do that!

Those sandwiches from Starring Rolls are ginormous! I saw them too. I like how you could get any cupcake as a dessert.

They were oh so yummy. This was one of my favorite meals that we got as a counter/quick service.

 

[Joyciemc]

That was a long day! But it sounds like fun!

I bet you all slept well this night!

 

[annmarieda]

That was a long day! But it sounds like fun!

I bet you all slept well this night!

It was a long day. We were all very tired. You would think that we would have slept well. I will type up the next chapter soon enough, so I don't want to give it all away...but..lets just say it did not go well.

 

[tankgirl427]

Did anyone in your group have a plaid bag? If so you might have been the DISer I saw going to Pop. We waited for the whole stadium to fill out before leaving for the most part, then BF went on TOT which took a while and then we left.

 

[annmarieda]

Did anyone in your group have a plaid bag? If so you might have been the DISer I saw going to Pop. We waited for the whole stadium to fill out before leaving for the most part, then BF went on TOT which took a while and then we left.

This is the bag I brought. I did have lime green mickey's attached to it.

 

[tinacaplan]

Wow! You guys really did a LOT in one day. I can't even imagine doing all that. Impressive that Zoe kept it together that long, too. Well...and maybe more impressive that YOU did!

 

[annmarieda]

Remember that at the start of this day, I purchased a stroller. Remember that I was not the one who set up the stroller. This are important facts.

Ok so after the last show of Fantasmic the park closes. I am not sure what is going on with the buses going to Pop, but there is a HUGE line. We find out at some point that there is some sort of mix up back at Pop and they are all hung up there. Soon, we are told, we should see multiple buses. The line was well outside the queue and I think everyone was getting pretty tired. Adding to this was the fact that a lot of scooters and or wheel chairs were coming up. Each time a bus came, regardless of how recent the chair had come, of course the chairs/scooters had to be loaded first. This slowed the progression of the line.

Zoe is such a trooper. She doesn't complain a whole lot and takes most everything in stride. She had made it all the way through the day. While in line, she fell asleep. She was dangling out of the stroller a bit, she was so out.

Behind us in line was a couple of people. One was making comments about how much she dislikes children. The conversation was loud and we couldn't help but overhear. I was able to just blow it off. I don't care... my sleeping child was near perfect all day and so what if we are taking up some room in line with the stroller. I did have to wonder why someone who hates kids would find themselves in WDW..but, I that was the extent to my investment of energy in the people's conversation. Kira however was getting hot, and frustrated. She was also feeling a bit like she had to watch over her grandmother and I think that bothered her.

Slowly we made our way to the front of the line (after multiple buses coming and going) I was attempting to let Zoe sleep for as long as she needed. We were all tired and honestly I too was moving slow. I had not removed bags, or fans or cup or Zoe...and remember...I had NO idea how this stroller broke down. I assumed it would be the three adults taking care of all of this to get us on the bus. Well, there were two of us. I got Zoe up. Kira began to try and hand off things to my mother...who was oblivious. She had been buying things (hence the bags) for her "surrogate" granddaughter and daughter.

- side note - My mom lives in a town away from her only two kids. She has become good friends with someone my age who has a 10 year old daughter. This woman and her daughter have become surrogate daughter and granddaughter to my mom. -

So lots of bags, hanging on the stroller...all that Kira is now trying to get my mom to hold onto. She is not getting that we have to move..onto the bus NOW. My mom also has a pop in the cup holder that Kira is also trying to get her to take. I am trying to carry Zoe and the diaper bag (ok, not diaper bag...the bag with sunscreen, extra clothes for Zoe and her pullups..etc) It is now time to break down the stroller. Kira has no idea either and it is not going well. The line is moving...we are moving...mom begins to just randomly drop things... CLICK..Kira gets the stroller collapsed and somehow hits moms pop or something and SPALOOSH.. Pop goes everywhere...Kira is now trying to pick up random items that have fallen and we are trying to get onto the bus. I think that it has been a long day and this is definitely the breaking point. Kira is MAD and to the point of tears. (the people behind us and their conversation I think did not help) Meanwhile, (and I love my mother so very much...but ) mom is standing just watching us.

Thankfully this was not a long bus ride. We were back to Pop in no time. We got up to the room and Kira needed some time away from grandma. We got ready and took Zoe down to the kiddie pool. (thank goodness for 24 hour pool) I let Kira vent about all her frustrations of the day and Zoe (who got a second wind) played in the pool. I wish I had taken pics of Zoe running around, but I was way way too exhausted.

After the pool, we went upstairs to shower and go to bed. Zoe was sharing a bed with my mother. Now, maybe it is weird of us...but the girls and I...when we shower before bed we do not blow dry our hair. Maybe we braid it or maybe we don't. We do go to bed with it wet. Well, for whatever reason, this FREAKS my mother out. Now Zoe is upset. (my happy one...is upset) She doesn't want to sleep with Grandma who is being weird about the wet hair. Kira doesn't want to sleep with Grandma..well, cause Grandma has done made her good and mad. Kira will not sleep with Zoe because of Zoe's medical issue. Zoe lays on the floor crying... and falls asleep.

At this point, I am so upset that I too am near the point of tears. I have put so much into this trip. I have planned for months. I just wanted everyone to have a good time. I start to feel sick to my stomach. I too then lay on the floor near the bathroom (in case) and fall asleep. I know...gross to lay on the floor..at least it was refurbished..so pretty new carpet. Both Zoe and I were not laying directly on the floor either.

In the middle of the night, I moved Zoe back up to the bed with my mom and I moved into bed with Kira. Now...middle of the night?. I fell asleep around 2am...this was about 5am and we were set to get up at 7am.

How will our morning of 9/3 go?

Next Chapter;

Discouraged, we start 9/3 in Epcot.

 

[tinacaplan]

Oh, boy. First of all, why in the world would you go to WDW if you hate kids? That doesn't make even one iota of sense. I'm sorry your otherwise good day was so stressful at the end. And I thought I was crazy for having cried in nearly every country in World Showcase? OK, maybe not literally, but I came close. Glad I can laugh about it now. Sort of.

I truly hope the trip got better from there...it did, right? It had to. You were at Disney World! Anyway, can't wait to hear about the rest of the trip.

 

[annmarieda]

Oh, boy. First of all, why in the world would you go to WDW if you hate kids? That doesn't make even one iota of sense. I'm sorry your otherwise good day was so stressful at the end. And I thought I was crazy for having cried in nearly every country in World Showcase? OK, maybe not literally, but I came close. Glad I can laugh about it now. Sort of.

I truly hope the trip got better from there...it did, right? It had to. You were at Disney World! Anyway, can't wait to hear about the rest of the trip.

as my title reads...ups and downs. Of course I loved the trip. I was in Disney World. Were there happy moments? Definitely!!!! Were there more that I wish were not so hard? Sadly, yes. It is all good though...I wouldn't have traded this trip for anything!

 

[tankgirl427]

Nope then that was definitely not you guys in front of us by a couple rows. I would have noticed something like that going on in the queue for the buses. I feel so bad for you, Kira, and Zoe.

Granted BF and I had some loud conversations at times, including the one at the airport about who was at fault, one in MK, and one...... well like one every day, but it was just about ourselves and to complain about children at a place that is geared for them is just wrong!