Tink + 5 yo Grandson - Dec 1-6 - Polynesian - Day 3 & 4

[tinkerbellmagic]

Day 3
Who: Me - Tink (female 49) + 5 yo GRANDSON
When: December 1-6
Resort: Polynesian
Day 3 : Epcot - MGM
Day 4: MK (again)

At about 5 am, I awake and notice that I can hear DGS (grandson)breathing. I listen closely and it sounds like a faint wheezing. I know there is no way we can suffer through another 10 hour ordeal at the hospital ER. I take a shower, look through the medical brochures I had gotten from the front desk, and call DOCS (Doctors On Call). They make house calls to your resort.

At 6 AM sharp, Amanda, the child in the room next door, starts her daily morning screaming ritual. How anyone has that much energy at 6 AM is beyond me. The Doc arrives around 7:30 am, checks out DGS, and tells me DGS has Asthmatic Bronchitis. He asks what medicines DGS is taking. I take the Amoxicillin out of our little fridge and hand it to the doctor. He looks at the bottle and says, "This is wrong. They have given you the wrong dosage instructions. This medicine is not to be taken 3x a day, it is only supposed to be taken 2x a day. This is basic medical knowledge and I find it very disturbing that there is a doctor in the ER handing out prescriptions with the wrong dosage instructions." I am feeling as though I might fall off the edge of the bed right about now. The doc prescribes new medications plus an inhaler. He calls all this in to Turner Drugs. He also had Turner Drugs bring over a different decongestant. DGS and I wait for these meds to be delivered. I was so relieved to find someone that knew what they were doing and understood what we had gone through on Monday.

We grab a bite to eat at Captain Cooks (yes, we practically live there). We relax a little in our room and when DGS is feeling better, I decide we can go to Epcot. I choose Epcot because we can get there and back quickly via monorail. I do not want to take any chances going anywhere on a bus since DGS is on new meds. We walk to the TTC from the Polynesian (see? that's why I love the Polynesian so much). We are at Epcot in no time staring at the magic golf ball (as DGS calls it).

We visit the Living Seas. DGS is thrilled to see a giant sea turtle, manatees, and sting rays. We head over to the Land. DGS does not want to go, but I tell him I took his mama there when she was little and I would really like to take him there too. When this doesn't work, I tell him I went there with my parents and his mama when Epcot was brand new and that we are going there no matter what (the things we do for nostalgia's sake). We park the stroller, go inside, down the stairs, and get inline for the boat ride. We are inline about 10 mins, when I realize OMG we left Pal Mickey in the stroller! All the mousenapping posts I read here flash through my head. Now, DGS had grown quite fond of Pal Mickey and I sure didn't feel like buying a new one, so we left the line and quickly, very quickly, hoofed on outside. We look inside the stroller and there is Pal Mickey -- staring up at us -- the guilty ones who abandoned him. I can only assume he was still there because our stroller was parked away from all the others with only honest people walking by. We get back in line and ride the boat ride in The Land. We went on to Food Rocks -- sorry to hear it is closing. DGS needs a pick me up after the Land. Remembering how my son loved the shooting water fountains back in the 1980s, we head over there. DGS loves the water fountains and does not want to leave. We stop to eat at the Electric Umbrella. What can I say, it's a tradition.

We head over to see the model railroad garden in WSC Germany. As I said, DGS loves trains. We stay there for about 30 mins just watching the train. We find the Hidden Mickey there in the garden. DGS loves the moving statues too, so we stay there for a while. The moving statues are very amusing and entertaining. Thank heavens for the stroller, especially in WSC. When we arrive at the International Gateway, I decide DGS is doing so well that we take the boat to the Yacht and Beach Club. Our mission? --to have ice cream at Beaches 'N Cream. We leave the stroller at the stroller checkpoint at the gate. Being at the Yacht Club brought back memories of staying at there in 1997. Nothing beats sitting outside by the pool at an ice cream cone table at Beaches 'N Cream. DGS says the pool is cool because it has an island. Because of his ear infection and the weather, we do not swim on this trip. DGS is still feeling pretty good, so we take the boat to MGM just to see the Disney Stars and Motor Cars parade. After the parade (which was wonderful) we go to play at the Bugs Life indoor playground. DGS did this last year and requested to go back this year. He has a great time. I was ready to leave the indoor playground after a bit. We catch the boat back to Epcot, pick up another stroller at the International Gateway, stop in the toy store in Great Britain to play with the Thomas the Tank Engine train set, and hop the monorail back to the Polynesian. It's always fun trying to guess which color monorail will whisk us off to our next destination.

It has been a full day. If DGS was in perfect health, we would have stayed at Epcot, but I don't like pushing it. Back at the resort, we rest up. DGS is watching his favorite show -- Top 7 Disney Attractions. Let's just say I had tired of Crissa and her Top 7 long before DGS did. We missed seeing the vintage Disney cartoons DGS had grown so fond of last year during our stay.

I think this is the evening I decide to make a quick trip to MK to see the Spectromagic parade. As soon as we hop on the monorail at 5:45 PM, DGS falls asleep. We get to MK and he cannot stay awake even as the first float is going by. I then remembered I gave him the new Tylenol Cold medicine and it makes you drowsy. He was in the stroller and I would have stayed to watch the parade. I had wanted to see it again so badly, but alas, as luck would have it, it started to rain. I didn't think it was wise to stay to watch the parade in the rain, given the Asthmatic Bronchitis, so I sadly returned the stroller and carried this 42 pound 5 year old up the ramp to the monorail, off the monorail through the Great Ceremonial House at the Polynesian, and then to our long house, resting a lot along the way. He slept the entire time. It was only 6:15 pm. He slept through the night until 8 am the next morning!

To any of you who have the misfortune of dealing with very noisy neighbors at your resort, if you stick a bath towel under the adjoining door, it cuts down on the noise a little. Amanda, her parents, and her brothers were less maddening once I did this.

Added note: Now it would not be the Polynesian if we couldn't hear the 12 Days Christmas song Hawaiin style.. Unfortunately, DGS remembers my other son's infamous line in this Christmas favorite. When we stayed at the Polynesian in Dec 2002, on our first day, we were walking the grounds near the volcano pool. The Twelve Days of Christmas carol bellowed out from the shrubs and when the part comes up that says "On the Fifth Day of Christmas My tutu gave to me".. My 20 something year old son sings rather loudly, "Five Golden Beeeeeeers!" This sent my teenage daughter into a laughing fit then, and each time after that during our stay. Since this song is played many times throughout Disney World, the opportunity to use this new line became a fun frolicking family tradition. Yes, I know something sweeter would have been more appropriate, but what can I say, it stuck. Well, DGS remembers this and did not miss the opportunity to follow in his uncle's footsteps whenever the occasion arose.

********************
Day 4 is in a post below - thanks!

 

[IloveDMB]

It's amazing how many incompetent people there are out there. Glad you got the meds worked out and were able to have a nice day!

 

[rasnlms]

So very glad to hear your GS is feeling better - looking forward to the next report

 

[HaleyB]

Glad to hear your trip got back on track after that first day! Sounds like you are having a blast with your DGS.

Funny thing, I am already looking forward to taking Grand kids to WDW, and my youngest child is only 5 (my oldest is 17, so I have awhile to wait still)! But I see how they look at my Mom (who never ever makes them go to bed if there is a special on, lets them skip veggies if they want to, and never says no to them) and I think that being a Grandma must be fun! Of course it is also fun being Mom and getting to take my kids to WDW!

And I want to thank you for all the info, if we need a Doc it will be Doc's on call for us.

 

[mowanda]

I thought that was you! I'm so sorry you had this sickness with your grandson. That really can stress you out when it is your own child let alone a grandchild. I know when I have mine with me I am very careful they don't get hurt, I think you are more careful and cautious with grandchildren than you were with their parents. Your trip reports are great! I have eleven days until we leave for WDW, I can't wait. Do you know how long the kingdom is decorated for the holidays? I was watching a tv special last night on the Travel Channel about holiday time at WDW, and that just made me more excited. Hope to talk to you soon by e-mail.

Brenda(Disney Magic 3/03)

 

[corky805]

Glad you are having some fun through it all.....The ER docs mistake is unexcusable IMO....thank goodness you got it straightened out.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Hello Everyone,

Thanks so much for your very kind replies to my trip reports. I am just popping in right now, but will be back soon and will post Days 4 (MK), 5 (AK), and then 6 (which is the trip home).

Note to Brenda: Yes, it's me! -- your old table mate on the Disney Magic!

Tink

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

DAY 4 Magic Kingdom again

Tink and 5 year old Grandson (DGS)

Today we go back to MK. DGS had not wanted to ride much of anything before since he wasn't in top form, but I decide I cannot leave WDW without seeing Mickey's Philharmagic and riding IASW... simple requests, right? We grab Pal Mickey, our water bottles, aspirin, chapstick, and passes, and we're a monorail ride away from MK. We rent a stroller -- which we do every day since I don't want to wear out DGS or worse, he has a relapse. By some fluke, there is a very small line at Tomorrow Land Speedway - DGS loves this ride and he has never been on it -- I hate the exhaust fumes, but it's a fun ride.

We ride the carousel and I take, what later turns out to be, a fabu photo of DGS on the carousel with the castle in the background. Finally, the line to IASW is small -- the other times we have checked the lines, they have been surprisingly long for this time of year--even though DGS does not want to ride this, I tell him everyone in our family is forced to ride IASW as a favor to me and he is no exception.. hehe. We see Mickey's Philharmagic. No waiting -- Great show -- sort of loud for the little ones and may be a little scary for some small children -- but very well done. When the show is over, I have to struggle with DGS to return the 3D glasses. He wants to keep them. We are having a tug of war at the 3D barrel while the crowds hurry by. I win. You have to realize that I am run down from the trips previous events and thus I'm not in the best of moods.

TEA CUP TORTURE: I have never ridden the Tea Cups. I don't like spinning rides. I can do TOT, Rockin Rollercoaster, TT, and all the Mountains, but keep me off the tiltawhirl and spinning rides. DGS asked to go on the Tea Cups last year and no one would go on with him. I told him this year, I cannot go on because I cannot handle spinning rides. We pass the tea Cups and there is no line. I decide to watch.. REALLY watch this ride to see if it's possible to ride and NOT spin. I decide that, by golly, it IS possible to ride Tea Cups and, as long as you don't turn the metal disk, you will not spin. We decide to go for it. I instruct/threaten DGS not to turn the metal disk in the center of the tea cup. He is not happy about it, but knows that is the only way he will get to ride. The ride starts. So far, so good. Our tea cup is not spinning. It is moving along gracefully. What a relaxing ride. At one point DGS starts to turn the disk, but I shoot him a beady eyed look and he stops. Suddenly, on its own, the darn tea cup is acting like it wants to spin. What the heck! In desperation, I take control of the metal disk. With a death grip and using all my power (those free weight arm exercises I had been doing sure paid off) I force the disk to stay in one place. It is much like driving a truck with no power steering -- it wasn't easy, but I am living proof it can be done. Yes, Folks, you CAN ride the tea cups and control THEM -- not let THEM control you and make you sick. I am still proud of this.

We are getting pretty hungry. We stop at Casey's Corner for hotdogs. The hot dogs are so delicious in their fluffly steamed buns. It makes me wonder why I have tortured myself all these years with cheap counter service elsewhere. And wait -- what is that across the street again? Why it's the ice cream parlor! The parade will be starting in about 45 mins, so we have some delicious ice cream while we wait. Now, I am not the type of person that scopes out an early spot for parades, but since I want to take it a little easier, we decide to sit on the curb on the bridge to the castle Main Street and wait. We are there for 30 mins when I notice DGS is wiggling on the curb. I tell him we can make a quick trip to the bathroom, but he assures me he can hold it so we don't lose our spot. Why is it in Disney World we abondon all common sense?

Despite staying put in our precious spot to enjoy the parade we have been waiting days to see, about 5 mins before the parade starts, a woman sits on the ground right behind me....practically on top of me, with a toddler on her lap. I am not exagerating when I say that the child kicked my butt non-stop during the entire parade. I was on the curb and had no where to move. It's not the childs fault. Kids will be kids, especially at that age. The mom was pretending to be oblivious though, instead of just moving back a little to give us all some breathing room. Oh well.. I will never stake out place for a parade anymore. I have always done well coming at the last minute and finding a spot in the back with some sort of fence or platform to stand on. I hate complaining when we are in such a happy place, but am just relaying my experience.


The Share a Dream Come True parade finally starts. DGS had been waiting all year to see this parade. Last year, on his very first trip to WDW, this parade was the first thing he saw when we arrived and has been a big favorite ever since. I had even bought the WDW Parade CD and we had been listening to it all year. The parade was every bit as magical as we remember. I make up my mind to enjoy it even while being kicked in the back for the duration. Our favorite part is when the evil queen says, "Apple, anyone?" We loved the confetti too last year and picked some up off the ground for our scrap book, but this year, we sat too far away from Main Street to experience that. Love that parade and knew it was our last time to see it.

I had heard about the playground type atmosphere on Tom Sawyers island, so decide DGS might like it there. We hop on the raft that carries us across the river to the island. We arrive on the island and see a rather forboding sign swinging in the breeze advertising desserts at Aunt Pollys with the words CLOSED written underneath. Wow, even Aunt Polly has packed up and left Tom Sawyers Island. We venture into the forest and 'worried grandma mode' kicks in. 'What the heck am I doing taking DGS into a forest so he can run around like a maniac when just yesterday he was wheezing???' (all you parents of children with allergies know this feeling). Caves are out of the question -- the dampness could trigger the wheezing again. We have a fun time making our way across the wobbly bridge. DGS loves the fort and would have loved to explore more. We don't stay on the island very long. We catch the flat boat back to the mainland. As we are walking down the path, I hear a young couple behind us talking. The young woman was saying she was a little disappointed in Tom Sawyer's Island. The young man agreed, but added that at least they could say they have been there. I turn to them to agree and add, "Perhaps if Aunt Polly's had been open, it may have felt more special." We all laugh and go on our merry way. That said, I know if DGS was in top form, he would have had a ball on Tom Sawyer's Island. I think any child would. Still, I guess we will never know what Aunt Polly's delicious apple pie or fudge brownie sundaes taste like.

..........to be continued as time permits

 

[Minniespal]

Thanx for sharing.