These Kids Make Me Wish You Could Curse on the DISBoards (May '11 Trip) - DONE 9/14

[MEK]

So what's this?????? I'm up later than YOU!

Great updates. Poor Kristin. I would not be happy if I got stung by a bee in the eye. No wonder she couldn't remember if she was allergic or not - she was probably too darn upset. It looks like it hurt. TG for Benadryl. Of course, it would probably put me right to sleep and I'd end up back at First Aid to take a nap.

On a happier note, I hereby crown Miss Emily as the most photogenic kid on the DIS boards right now. She is just one smile after another.

Come to think of it, I have not seen a lime green Mickey in quite awhile.

 

[rndmr2]

That's crazy that Kristen got stung, glad she is OK, thank God she didn't have a reaction.

I love all the kids' hat pictures, they are so cute.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Oh my! A sting in the eye can't be any fun. Ouch!! And when it messes with food (and the drinking schedule!) that is just wrong!!! Glad it ended up ok.

How great Dylan found a meal he liked! And he got on a ride! I can't believe you and he like the orange side.

Agree with MEK. Miss Emily is a cutie. Love the pic where she is giving her big bro the same hug she gives the characters.

 

[mimiecp]

Very sorry about the bee sting. I think she handled it much better than I would have.

Good to know that the fish and chips are a hit with kids.

Keep the topiary pics coming! Love them.

Looking forward to hearing about Teppan Edo. We have an ADR there in Sept, but I'm still on the fence about it.

 

[jenjolt]

Okay so I guess its time to come out of my self imposed lurkdom LOL!! Been following along and loving every minute of your report!!!

YAY for Dylan riding a ride and finding a meal he likes!! WOOT WOOT!! I really like the fish and chips at UK too!!!

OUCH OUCH OUCH stung in the eye,that is just wrong...couldn't have picked an ear or a finger...nope went for an eye...unbelievable!! Glad Kristen was okay and bravo for how she handled it!!

Loving all the pics of the kiddos...what a cute pair!!!

 

[Invisable89]

I'm VERY late with this TR! I usually just read through them without posting anything but i just wanted some information.

I'm so sorry if this has been answered or talked about but i'm only up to page 12.

You went during the begining of May into mid May, what would you say the crowds were like, overall? Did the crowds get heavier as the month progressed? Were there any 1-2 hour queues for any attractions? I'm asking as my family & I are trying to decide what month to go in for our next WDW holiday!

 

[nilla]

So what's this?????? I'm up later than YOU!

I'll have to do better next time

On a happier note, I hereby crown Miss Emily as the most photogenic kid on the DIS boards right now. She is just one smile after another.

Thanks! We think she's pretty cute, too She does have some camera presence that the rest of us sorely lack...

That's crazy that Kristen got stung, glad she is OK, thank God she didn't have a reaction.

If something's going to happen, it's probably going to be to her. It almost becomes unsurprising!

It was great that it ended up being not that bad, and as I told her when she forgot her phone on Day 1, "this all makes for good trip report!"

How great Dylan found a meal he liked! And he got on a ride! I can't believe you and he like the orange side.

He's actually become MUCH better over the Summer. That said, he jumps to the next tier of the Dining Plan next year, and we're seriously considering letting Emily order the adult meal instead

Looking forward to hearing about Teppan Edo. We have an ADR there in Sept, but I'm still on the fence about it.

I was about to make some comments about it, then remembered I didn't get to that part yet! Oops. Sit tight!

Okay so I guess its time to come out of my self imposed lurkdom LOL!! Been following along and loving every minute of your report!!!!

Glad to be able to drag you out! I've fallen woefully behind on the TRs I'm following since returning from the beach, so I know what you mean. Thanks for following, and thanks for the compliments. They mean a lot!

You went during the begining of May into mid May, what would you say the crowds were like, overall? Did the crowds get heavier as the month progressed? Were there any 1-2 hour queues for any attractions? I'm asking as my family & I are trying to decide what month to go in for our next WDW holiday!

For most of the trip, crowds were almost non-existent. There may have been 2 days that there were any significant waits in the parks. Our HS day was a VERY light crowd, but that (deliberately) was on a non-Fantasmic day.

This is the time we try to come every year, and have had great luck with crowds for the most part. I would recommend it.

It DOES get a bit hot (especially this year), but the humidity's not there yet, so it's bearable. It's usually a pretty dry time, too.

 

[KatMark]

As I snap the shot, I recall that I have seen exactly ZERO of these in our 7 days so far in WDW. Not a one. And not a comment on this one. I'm starting to think that this is all some big, inside joke the DIS Veteran's play on the "Earning My Ears" crowd, and I'm just the latest victim. Tell the noobs that everyone from the DISBoards carries the line green Mickeys, and that way, we can identify those who are not yet part of our "secret society". How will we identify ourselves? Why, with our dollar store ponchos, of course. And they'll just think we're missing the point on Kali River Rapids.

I have to admit...I never saw one last year either except my own.


While I'm away, the mom in front of us complains to her husband about the "Make a Wish" girl who was able to bypass the line and wait inside the rope. The unhappy mom says her daughter is severely autistic, which is of course horrible, but I would find it very hard to complain about something like this.

Really? Really? Really? I am just in shock that someone would say that about a Make A Wish child!

Emily LOVES the characters this year. She gets all shy and blushy, then gives them a huge hug. I swear she would probably do the same if she met Malificient.

Prepare to be bombarded with Photopass pics of our kids with the characters in 3...2...1...

Great photos with the Fab Five!


More pics on the way:

We stop for a pic in Canada on the way:

Great Epcot photos -- very clear and beautiful.

 

[KatMark]

Wait, here she comes. Whoa, she's walking pretty fast. And doesn't look happy.

"I just got stung by a bee. In the eye."

Oh no!! It's hardly noticeable, but she says it hurts like hell, as I imagine a bee sting to the eye would hurt. She tells me she's going back to the table, but asks me to get her a cup of ice when the place opens.

"I'm not allergic, though."

Well, that's a relief. She's got some pretty bad allergies when it comes to things like cats and other small, furry creatures, so you never know.


Oh, hey - here's Kristin! I hand her the ice, but she's pretty upset right now.

"I think I have to go to the emergency room."

Um, what?

I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I have referred to her in the recent past as the "girl who cried 'emergency room'", so this is nothing new to me. Of course, the kidney stone incident the prior Sunday changed the game a bit, so I need to be sensitive about it. Still, I ask if she's sure.

"Yes. I got stung in the eye by a bee, and I'm allergic to bees, and-"

WAIT. Didn't you just tell me you're NOT allergic? So which is it? Quick thinking is spawned in response to images in my head of her being airlifted out of Epcot for a bee sting that she may or may not be allergic to, and I suggest she try First Aid, you know, first.

My phone rings, and it's her. She asked somewhere in the UK pavilion where First Aid was, and as they briefly tended to her, they told her it was over near Test Track, by that walkway from Futureworld to World Showcase. Apparently, they offered to get a gurney for her to wheel her over there, but she refused

She also said the woman helping her asked if she had any "Wee ones", which we got a kick out of, for some reason. Kristin thanked them and said she would be able to get there herself, then came back to meet us.

Apparently, she's ok. They gave her some kind of liquid to put on the sting, which will hopefully keep it from getting too bad, but she also wants to see if she can get some Benadryl over at the First Aid station. Maybe I am as insensitive as she says, but I find it hard to really worry about her when I can't really gauge the level of distress from her.

At First Aid, she talks to the nurse, and Benadryl is given. The kids and I wait, sort of patiently:

Kristin gets the meds, and the nurse warns her that she may feel drowsy after taking it. Not to worry, Kristin says...given her allergy history, she's an old pro at functioning on Benadryl

With her back in bidness, it's time to head back to World Showcase. I tell her how well Dylan ate, but I think she's still a bit too traumatized by the whole bee thing to really think about much else. She will now, finally, let me get a pic of the injury:

It doesn't look THAT bad, fortunately. We're not done with this park just yet

Poor Kristin. I can't even imagine getting stung by a bee anywhere, let alone in the eye. I'm glad she was okay.

Alright, now it's time to get back into Epcot mode, and what better way than by watching "O, Canada!" The kids and I just watched "Clifford" with Martin Short a month or two ago (why do I feel like I already told you this? Did I already tell you this??), so they like Short. Funny movie, and apparently Sookie Stackhouse is from Canada, NOT Bon Temps, LA as she claims to be on TV. You just can't trust anyone anymore, can you?

Afterwards, it's into the shops for more hat pictures. This pavilion offers double the hat picture fun:

I love that movie with Martin Short. Great hat photos!

Look at that loving brother and sister picture.

Kristin, who hasn't eaten yet for some reason I can't remember...oh yeah, the bee - how could I forget? Anyway, she's hungry, so we go over to France and she gets herself a Ham and Cheese Croissant and a creme brulee from the bakery:

Food looks yummy.

Adorable!

Perhaps he should have worn that before meals and then he'd have a reason not to eat.

[/QUOTE]

Great updates, Jon (comments in red).

 

[MEK]

:Really? Really? Really? I am just in shock that someone would say that about a Make A Wish child!


[/COLOR]

I completely agree. I forgot to mention that in my comments (perhaps because I was up way past my bedtime). Correct me if I'm wrong, but a good number of those children suffering from a terminal disease? Shocking. But perhaps she was just having a completely horrific morning and was not thinking when she spoke. Well, clearly she was not thinking, but you know what I mean.

 

[Invisable89]

For most of the trip, crowds were almost non-existent. There may have been 2 days that there were any significant waits in the parks. Our HS day was a VERY light crowd, but that (deliberately) was on a non-Fantasmic day.

This is the time we try to come every year, and have had great luck with crowds for the most part. I would recommend it.

It DOES get a bit hot (especially this year), but the humidity's not there yet, so it's bearable. It's usually a pretty dry time, too.

Thanks for that! Really useful! We never go to the parks during the weekend due to that upping the crowd levels, but we'll still stick to the get-to-the-parks-for-ropedrop-&-EMH strategy due to my Mother's OCD with queues. I take it you used your Fast Passes after your return times?

I'm really enjoying your TR so far!

 

[nilla]

I completely agree. I forgot to mention that in my comments (perhaps because I was up way past my bedtime). Correct me if I'm wrong, but a good number of those children suffering from a terminal disease? Shocking. But perhaps she was just having a completely horrific morning and was not thinking when she spoke. Well, clearly she was not thinking, but you know what I mean.

To her credit, she did only say it to her husband, so who knows what kind of day she was having. That's more than I can say for Dylan, who will have a similar quote in an upcoming update. Don't change that channel!

I take it you used your Fast Passes after your return times?

I'm really enjoying your TR so far!

Thanks!

I would say we very rarely use our Fast Passes during the suggested return times. It's almost always after, and often a few hours after.

FPs really are one of the most important keys to maximizing your experience, IMO. No one likes to wait in lines. Get the right FPs, and get as many as you can get, and you'll minimize the wait. It's amazing so many people don't use them.

Updates soon! As in tonight! Hang in there!

 

[nilla]

Outnumbered by giant fairies and oversized animals! Attacked by bees! Launched into space! Forced to wear ridiculous hats! Bombarded with images of the frozen north, from all angles! What could this crazy half-futuristic compound, half-microcosm of the planet Earth have in store for our heroes next?

With seemingly nowhere left to run, they take to the water, against the panicked warnings of their faithful narrator. "It will be faster to walk!" he argues. "We can get drinks on the way!". But the safest place for this foursome is clearly the boat docked a short spirnt away. But can they really trust that the "Friendship Boat" won't turn out to be some cruel trick played by their enemies?

Quickly replinishing with one last glass of wine and 12 more ounces of Kronenbourg, the team sets their sights toward the lagoon, and With a never-say-die plunge into the unknown, hurl themselves through the narrow walkway and onto the vessel, not looking back until safely out to sea. Mexico is their destination, and by the time they exit the craft, their adversaries are no longer in sight. Or are they?

In the next part of our story, we drop the silly 3rd person storytelling and run-on sentences. It's back to "standard trip report" for this family, and - what's that? A ride?

Yep, apparently we are going on a ride! And what better ride to hit right now than Test Track? We grab some FPs first, then hit the surprising-short standby line.

Do you think the kids like this one?

It's actually Emily's favorite in all of WDW. Even more than It's a Small World. She loves it.

We love it, too, but you know what we also love? Soarin'! We must be running at full throttle right now, because we don't really have any pictures of this time. Also, I'm guessing we got FPs for this ride at some point during they day, though there was no mention if this in this trip report. The author really should've done some more preparation before writing this, don't you think?

We ride Soarin' (1-B, of course!), and it's great as usual. The European family (sorry, I'm not the best at non-German accents, though I'm at least 1/2 non-German) that is seated next to us knows nothing about this ride, but I clue them in on its awesomeness, and they agree afterwards.

Hey, I finally spotted the Hidden Mickey in the shrubs behind the house at the opening of the balloon scene! Thanks, wonderful couple from the 2010 Trip Report. Great tip!

With the showpiece attractions at Epcot under our belts, we're getting hungry, so it's back into World Showcase for Teppan Edo!

 

[nilla]

On the way back to Japan, we pause for some train pics in Germany:

The Rapunzel tower is pretty cool, since they play the song out of it. They really do a good job with forced perspective on this one, especially considering that it's only about 20 feet away.

We reach Japan, park the stroller, then ride the elevator up to Teppan Edo.

We ate here a few years ago, and Dylan was an even WORSE eater back then, if you can believe that. Anyway, he LOVED it. He didn't fare so well at the hibachi place near our house, but he swears he'll eat it this time. So we're back.

He looks positive enough:

As do these two:

For starters, Kristin gets another wine, and I go with the 20 oz Kirin Ichiban. The guy sitting next to me gets the same, so I know instantly that he's going to be fun.

For starters, I order the sashimi sampler, because the best fish is the least cooked fish. I prefer it to the sushi rolls. Someone about the freshness of it, and it leaves me feeling great after I eat it.

Cheater chopsticks at the ready, the kids wait for their meals:

The family sitting with us IS really cool. They're from somewhere in Maryland, and the Mom is pregnant with their 3rd kid. Meanwhile, the chef has arrived, and he gets to work:

Kristin points out to me that he was our chef when we were last here, 3 years ago. Amazing she remembers, but even more amazing is that he says, "I know you're from Pennsylvania," before asking the others where they're from. We try to figure out how he knows this. Could HE remember US? Seems unlikely, but we can't come to any other conclusion.

The usual antics ensue - the onion volcano, the oil smiley face, the steam engine - and the audience watches on, captivated:

The food's up now. The kids opted for the kids' chicken, which Kristin and I got the steak and shrimp. Regretfully, we did not take any pictures, because it's hard to hold chopsticks AND a camera at the same time. The meal was a hit across the board:

We close it out with a shot of the celebrity chef...

...donate our Test Track FPs to our tablemates, and then we're on our way.

I like Teppan Edo. The food is good, though not really any better than most other places like it. The show is basically the same as it as at most other places like it. Something about location, however, sets it apart. It's really a whole experience, when you can then walk downstairs into a store stocked with Japanese goods. It's nice that you can walk to it, too. I think we will definitely come back in the future, though Kristin is already saying we may shelf it next year.

 

[nilla]

Before hitting the store, we veer right into the small exhibit room. Last year, there was a great tin toy exhibit here, but this year, it's dedicated to the various creatures prevelant in Japanese fiction:

Monchichi! Yeah!!

They apparently dig monkeys, too.

I knew there was a reason I liked Japanese stuff so much.

It'sa me, Mario!

Ahhh, I remember taking these guys out in the second round of Basketball Nightmare for Sega Master System Japan back in high school. Let's see how many of you get THAT reference (hands down, mfeyer)!

The kids cashed in their completed Cars 2 sticker books for a Cars 2 button. The next stop was the Mitsukoshi store, also known as my favorite store in WDW, also also known as the store I must've taken a lot of picture in before since I don't seem to have any on this day. Purchases abound for this family, as Kristin gets a really great bag (I'll take a pic of it for a future update) and a fuzzy Hello Kitty shower wrap, I get this years addition to my solar powered bobble head collection (a ninja) and some candy for a friend at work (and myself), and Emily gets the coveted Hello Kitty press-on nails. Dylan, inexplicably, gets nothing. He was planning on getting another stuffed Pokemon, but couldn't seem to decide on one. Heck, *I* almost got one, and he still passed. No purchase for him at this time. Funny, since he usually blows a lot of cash here.

Afterwards, we somehow ended up back in France, and somehow end up with another wine and another beer. We then decide to call it a night and head back to Coronado Springs, but let the kids make a stop in another playground so Kristin can step aside and ______.

Hey, look who's in the playground - it's the family we sat with at dinner! The kids play a bit, and then it's back to CS.

We hit El Centro again, stopping in Panchito's first, where we get a half gallon of milk and 750 ml of Pinot Grigio for the room. I stop at Rix for a Bohemia and a muffin for tomorrow (the Bohemia is for tonight, silly!), and then it's back to the room.

The wine came with a travel corkscrew, which has come in handy many times since our trip. Kristin pours herself a cup, then steps outside to feed her phone fix, while I watch TV with the kids. It's late, so there's nothing really on...oh, wait! Phineas and Ferb is on! At 9:00 at night! Dreams really DO come true in Disney!

We watch, Kristin talks, and eventually our fatigue gets the better of us. It's lights out, but can we just get one last picture before bed?

Awwwww, he loves his Duffy! As difficult as this kid is, he does really have a good heart. Now, all he needs is a good brain to tell him to JUST STOP ARGUING!

Off to dreamland we go, and it's another great day down, with 3 more to go. We're at the tail end of our vacation, but still have SO MUCH to do, so we have to stay positive. We've got pretty much a non-day tomorrow, with an extended pool visit and an afternoon trip to Downtown Disney, so there's really no rush to do anything tomorrow. It's sure to be a shock to my "let's go, let's go!" touring style, so we'll see how it goes!


[POST=42107378](skip to next update)[/POST]

 

[KatMark]

I have to walk the dog and then am headed to bed so I'll read your latest update tomorrow.

But I think you don't love me anymore as you totally ignored my comments on your last two updates.

J/K.

 

[nilla]

I have to walk the dog and then am headed to bed so I'll read your latest update tomorrow.

But I think you don't love me anymore as you totally ignored my comments on your last two updates.

J/K.

Not true! I did comment on a comment MEK made to your comment, so by transitive property, I commented on your comment

Actually, the real reason is that the quote tag on your posts got mucked up somehow, and I got lazy

I WAS planning on commenting on them tomorrow, when I have more gas in the tank, but since you're INSISTING, I'll comment right now

 

[nilla]

I have to admit...I never saw one last year either except my own.

Of course. When I finally come around to a trend, it's already passe. Story of my life!

Poor Kristin. I can't even imagine getting stung by a bee anywhere, let alone in the eye. I'm glad she was okay.

Definitely not what you want to have happen on vacation!

I love that movie with Martin Short. Great hat photos!

The intro cracks me up. "...where it snows 365 days a year..."

Perhaps he should have worn that before meals and then he'd have a reason not to eat.

Trust me, he has plenty of reasons not to eat. We're not buying any of them, but he's got them nonetheless.

Great updates, Jon (comments in red).

Thanks! I may not get to update tomorrow because we may go see the Smurfs at some point (did I really just say that), but I'm back in the zone now and ready to keep this ball rolling.

 

[MEK]

That picture of Dylan is priceless! Does he really argue all the time? If so, I can totally relate as my older son was and still is like that.

Teppan Edo - such a fun meal. Makes me wish I had added it to my meal list for December. Oh well. So many restaurants, so little time.

OK - here's what I want to know. Do you think that Chef just randomly guessed Pennsylvania? That would be outstanding if he really remembered, but I just don't see how that's possible.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

A fun set of updates, as always! I have only seen the hidden Mickey on the golf ball in Soarin' so thanks for the tip to also look in the balloon scene. . I love that ride!!

Dinner looks like it was fun! Very weird the chef knew you were from PA! I guess you guys made an impression!

So relieved that the Hello Kitty press on nails were purchased. Em was dressed appropriately for it with her HK shirt. So cute!!

Absolutely adorable picture of Dylan with Duffy dreaming sweet Disney dreams.