Turning 30 with the Mouse - 05/12/09 update

[Dolce27]

Great update! Cant wait for more!

Lol at your breakfast, then your sundae and soda, then moving to Goofy's and yet still considering the lighter option of the strawberry flavour! Indulgence! Dont hide it behind fruit names

BTW... you for sure dont look 30!!

Hey! Gotta have priorities, let me tell ya! And thanks for the compliment (at least I think it was a compliment). A lot of people seem to be shocked when I tell them my age. Most people seem to think that I'm in my early 20's. I don't think that I look that young... but then, again, I feel old so that probably has a lot to do with it.

WOW!!! That's some update And I really love the pictures too. Sorry about having a bad time with that lady at the pick a pearl shop. I can't imagine why some people are so rude. Oh well, that's life.

And I can't imagine why Disney closed the clubs...I think that's why everyone went. But I'm not sure if families were complaining or what!!! But honestly, who wants to go in a hot air balloon over Downtown Disney? I certainly don't If I want an hot air balloon ride, I'll rent one and fly over the mountains of NC for two hours!!!

Yeah, you'd think in a sales job you'd be friendlier to the potential customer. But, maybe she was just having an off day. I honestly wouldn't have even remembered her except that I jotted it down in my notes. I knew that I'd do a TR so I took notes. Trust me, I can't recall all of this by memory. I'm old and suffering memory loss.

I'm on page 6.

Good for you for leading interference for the boy (in the wheelchair) & his mother.

& good for you for being tour guide for the newbie family.

Doesn't at all surprise me that you did though.....always knew that you were one of the "good guys" (gender neutral).


& regarding your comment about Disneyland missing out by not having Mickey's Philharmagic.....I couldn't agree more. The two attractions at the World (besides World Showcase) that I would LOVE to see at DLR would be Philharmagic & Mission Space (& maybe Everest).....they're all E ticket attractions for sure.

I think it would be a perfect fit in the Hollywood area of DCA (maybe replace the very cute, but very very old Muppets attraction there).


Great report Dolce.

Yay, you're back! I thought that I lost you somewhere. I'm still searching for DISUNC... who knows where he got lost at

I will have to disagree with you about Muppets. It may be an outdated 3D film but I love it! And, something that I noticed that they do at DL that they don't do at WDW; the cast members type silly stuff up on a screen all throughout the pre-show. I didn't notice it until the very end of the pre-show (darn!) when I was there but what I saw was pretty funny.

Now, I wouldn’t mind them updating Muppets. I just want my Muppets!

Do you mind another reader? What a great trip report. I've successfully avoided work today and read it all in one sitting.

I'll be 30 in September and am dreading it highly. I know I'll be depressed. I can't do to Disney since we're going in November so maybe I'll just lock myself in my bedroom and cry about it.

I love what you did for those families in MK on Christmas Eve. That's really special.

PS-Not a big parade fan myself. My kiddos were bummed until I explained to them how many rides we could manage while everyone else was watching said parade. They then loved me once again.

Welcome! I'm glad to have you on board. About 30: I just about cried. Wait, I'm still crying. My brother in-law was in town tonight and called me for dinner. He's from England and my sister is demanding that me and my mom travel there for Christmas this year so she can have both sides together at once. Since my b-day is so close to Christmas, I'll be in London for both my b-day and New Years this year. So, I was talking about it with my brother in-law tonight and mentioned my 31st b-day and where in London we should go to celebrate and then I was like 31?!?! That sounds even worse than 30!! Wait a minute! It is!!! So far, I'm not handling my 30's well at all. Hopefully it will get better.


All: I thought that I'd have another day's update tonight, but then my brother in-law called for dinner so the update isn't going to happen. I'm out until late tomorrow night but there's a really good chance that by late Wed night I'll have Dec 28 added.

 

[Disneyfan71]

Oh you aren't suffering from memory loss There was so much going on and I'm sure you had a lot on your mind. I really love the Christmas pictures btw. How was the Hoop De Doo Review? I've read about it but have never tried it...if it's worth it, we might go for it.

 

["Got Disney"]

Oh you aren't suffering from memory loss There was so much going on and I'm sure you had a lot on your mind. I really love the Christmas pictures btw. How was the Hoop De Doo Review? I've read about it but have never tried it...if it's worth it, we might go for it.

I also did the Hoop De Doo Reviews....and it was GREAT! I thought my boys mostly my older one who was 13 at the time would say...Mom this is stupid cant we leave or I hate this why are we sitting here...or When the heck will this be over...well he loved it...he had such a great time. My 10 Y.o at the time loved it also! If ya have a chance to see it go and you will have a great time laughing

Dolce......I have enjoyed this thread! I have come and read when I was bored and it has been great! Thanks for the smiles

 

[Carol17]

I am having a ball reading this trip report! However, when I click on the link for the 2008 trip report, it just brings me to the beginning of THIS trip report. if you have previous trip reports I would love to read those too!

 

[Dolce27]

Oh you aren't suffering from memory loss There was so much going on and I'm sure you had a lot on your mind. I really love the Christmas pictures btw. How was the Hoop De Doo Review? I've read about it but have never tried it...if it's worth it, we might go for it.

I really enjoyed the HDDR. I thought it was a lot of fun and I really did enjoy the food. However, do you like that type of thing? My aunt seemed to enjoy herself, for the most part, while there but that's not the type of thing that she normally enjoys and doesn't plan to see it again. Me, I'm willing to go back again.

I am having a ball reading this trip report! However, when I click on the link for the 2008 trip report, it just brings me to the beginning of THIS trip report. if you have previous trip reports I would love to read those too!

Hey, Welcome! This is the 2008 TR actually. The trip ends on Jan 02, 2009 so I guess that it's really a 2008 - 2009 TR.

I do have two other TR's currently lost on the DIS. A 2006 WDW TR and a 2007 DL TR. I currently don't have links to either.


I'm still on plan to update tomorrow night... but knowing me it will be late before it is all posted.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Somehow I became unsubscribed to your trip report, so didn't realize you updated until I asked you on FB. Sorry. I'm going to be so sad when this ends. Do you think you could just make up more days and have it ongoing, like a novel? That would be soooo awesome.

So is that your mom in the blue top in the carriage? If so, wow, she looks really young too. Your grandmom looks like she is really enjoying herself. It's so nice that you all got to experience WDW together. I'm so there with you regarding your aunt being the "GF", as that is my sister to a T. In fact, my sister actually resembles your aunt.

Every time you mention that your room is in France I crack up. The one and only time I stayed on the BWI side, I could see the Eiffel Tower from my balcony. That was the best part about staying there. I loved seeing it lit up at night. On one of my trips at the villas, I swear our room was in the studios, it was that far down the hallway. It appeared that the TOT was right outside our balcony! Again, not my favorite resort.

 

[Dolce27]

I'm sorry you guys, due to technical difficulties; I'm unable to post my update tonight. I have the first part of the day written; I have photos loaded in photobucket. But I’m still having difficulties. I honestly think ½ of the problem is that I need a new computer (I will especially after I reenact the Office Space scene with the fax machine and a baseball bat… except this time the roll of the fax machine will be played by my computer) and the other ½ is that I hate Photobucket. It’s slow with editing images or even allowing me to copy images. I’ve been working on this TR since 7:00 tonight and I need to exercise and go to bed as it is now 9:40. I’m about to punch my computer I’m so frustrated with everything. Now Photobucket has decided to stop responding and I’m about have to shut everything down.

*sigh*

Off to exercise this frustration out. Next update will be Friday... if my computer is still alive by then.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Yet Friday has come and gone but . Love the updates and thought you just had a photobucket memory till you said you took notes! Well, the notes are paying off, this is def. one of the best TR on the boards IMHO. Keep it up

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Hey, Welcome! This is the 2008 TR actually. The trip ends on Jan 02, 2009 so I guess that it's really a 2008 - 2009 TR.

I do have two other TR's currently lost on the DIS. A 2006 WDW TR and a 2007 DL TR. I currently don't have links to either.


I'm still on plan to update tomorrow night... but knowing me it will be late before it is all posted.

Here's one.....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1646650

 

[debbieandroo]

I did it! I finished your TR - and most of it in one sitting...I'm exhausted...

Great work - I've loved every minute of it. You've inspired me with your solo trip - I'll be doing the same in late April - woo hoo for me!

And I second all the comments - one of my favorite TRs, too. And beautiful shots -- all those on a point and shoot, impressive.

Did you take any pics with your DSLR? I'd love to see them.

Note to self: no flashes and 2 second delay on night shots. Now I have to figure out how to do that on my camera.

Again, fabulous job on your TR --

 

[Dolce27]

Another 5:00am wake-up call. I was used to them, I was fine with them and I was up and ready to go because of them. Tamera was another story. I very quickly learned a hard lesson about my aunt that morning: she must have breakfast. Seriously, she must. I never knew that she was that big on breakfast.

She is.

I wanted to be at the bus stop by 6:00. She wanted to pour over the room service menu that unfortunately didn’t serve that early. I wanted to be at the bus stop at 6:00. She wanted to stop off at the Bellevue Lounge which unfortunately didn’t serve breakfast that early. I wanted to be at the bus stop by 6:00. She wanted to walk out to the boardwalk to find something at the bakery, which also wasn’t open that early.

Walking back towards the hotel lobby from the boardwalk, she put her foot down and demanded that we race back up to the room so she can grab her stash of “emergency” crackers from her suitcase. I kept informing her that there would be food to purchase at Animal Kingdom. Didn’t matter. She wanted food. Now.

We were still to the bus stop by 6:00.

The bus arrived around 6:15 and we were off to the AK. Upon arrival at the bus stop, I pull out my cell and call my mother to find out her 20.

Right behind us.

I turn around and spot her and my grandmother on the path behind us. It was still dark outside; this was the first time that I’ve ever seen Animal Kingdom in anything other than light. I’ve always wanted to attend a evening EMH, but hasn’t happened yet.

We walk up to the turnstiles and have to wait a bit. As usual, everyone was lining up behind the same one or two. So, we walked over to one of the several empty ones. Works every time. Our game plan was to head over and grab a wheelchair for my grandmother as soon as they let us through and then find something to eat as my mother and grandmother hadn’t yet eaten either.

My grandmother wasn’t too keen on the whole wheelchair thing. We knew she’d never make it without it. She actually has a wheelchair issued to her at home by her health provider but since she never really has to do any distance walking, she never uses it. My mother wanted to bring her wheelchair from home with her. When my mother and grandmother flew to a cousin’s wedding last September, my grandmother couldn’t even make it to the terminal at the airport by walking before she collapsed and my mother had to go in search of a wheelchair in order to get her to the gate. My mother didn’t want a repeat of that and knew that if grandmother couldn’t make it in a small airport (It wasn’t DFW they were in); then she wouldn’t be able to handle the walking at the parks at all. I finally made a compromise with my grandmother: we left her wheelchair at home and she just rented one for the parks only. She finally conceded. Honestly? I think that she thought that she’d slow us all down if she were in a wheelchair. Which was sweet but not true.

So, wheelchair it was and Tamera and I were the primary ones to do the driving.. or rolling.. or pushing… whatever. Wheelchair gotten, we head over to the rope drop. There was a good crowd already formed for the rope drop. They had a good sized line going. They were all facing the direction to look at this:

We were in a line too. Yup, we were lining up to face this:

Tamera had Granny’s chair pushed all the way up to the rope. Funny, we were the only ones in that line.

So, everyone else faced this:

And we faced this:

Rope dropped and we’re off with the masses rushing to Everest and us rushing to pastries. I’d previously discussed roller coasters with Tamera. Neither my mother or grandmother could ride one and it has been several years since Tamera’s been on one. I had no idea if she was willing to try – she was. So the game plan was for us to grab food and then I race off to Everest (with mine and Tamera’s room keys/park passes) to pick up FP’s to use later and then we meet up at the Safari.

Blueberry muffin in hand, thanks to Tamera who paid for it all as she wanted food and didn't care how it was obtained. She just began listing off orders to the poor CM who frantically tried to fill her request and I leave them at the food stand while negotiations are still being haggled.

(Considering that she hasn't even finished reading my 2006 TR, she's not going to be reading this any time soon... right??? )

I'm power walking. I take a bite of the muffin. Good as usual. I’m rushing; I’m in a hurry, I go to take a second bite and

Splat!

Muffin on the ground.

Great.

*sigh*

A couple of men, passing by me, mutter something about how that sucked. It did. But I really didn’t need it anyways and told them so as I tossed it into a trash can. See? It's all about the attitude.

I see another outdoor foods stand and inquire about fruit. Suddenly, I wanted a banana. No idea why, but that was what I wanted. The CM explained that the fruit stands wouldn’t open until 10:00. Ummmm… alright then. No fruit.

I quickly finish my journey to Everest, grab the required FP’s and haul it over to the Safari. OK, ok… I do grab a couple of pictures along the way:

I find out two things upon reaching it.

1)I beat the rest of my family to it
2)The Safari isn’t open for EMH. What?!?! I mean, WHAT?!?!

Grumbling, I turn and notice ….. a fruit stand! I walk over and purchase my banana and begin to eat it just as the rest of my party joins me. I get ‘looks’ from both Tamera and my mother for eating a banana when I should have just eaten an oversized blueberry muffin. I just keep happily munching away, don't mention the dropped muffin, as I explain that I didn’t do the required research to know that Safari wasn’t open yet and my plan is all shot. Anyone up for It’s Tough to be a Bug??

Anyone???

I push the wheelchair and we begin the journey over to the Tree of Life.

We discover this little (seemingly hidden) area.

I know that it is the seating area for a restaurant (which one?) that obviously wasn’t open, but it seemed tucked away. I glanced over at my grandmother and she seemed to really like the quiet atmosphere of the place.

She looked so happy and I was so grateful that she was physically able to come. I know everyone worried if she would be up to it or not.

Moving on.

Did I mention that Animal Kingdom is full of hills?

I couldn’t complain; I was getting a fabulous glute workout there.

We arrive at ITTBAB (It's tough to be a Bug ) and I took a picture of this:

… and that was pretty much it. Hey! I was busy pushing a wheelchair there; no time for photo ops. We were, obviously, put in the wheelchair section to wait to go into the theater. There really isn’t much to see from that spot. Normally I walk around looking at and taking non-flash photos of the cute posters in the pre-show area. The bugs where humming and twerping away at show tunes. I was humming along with them.

“ I have this downloaded on my ipod” I happily informed my family. I just received a ‘it’s official; your insane’ look from said family members for my confession. We were finally let into the theater. The wheelchair was parked next to the wall and my grandmother took a seat with the rest of us. So, she got to enjoy the ‘end’ of the show along with everyone else.

Bug show over; back to the Safari.

 

[Dolce27]

Work those glues; work those glues.

We finally make our way back to the Safari.

It was maybe a 20 minute wait? I’m really not big on the safari… I was just ready to see some animals and go. Again, with the wheelchair, we had to go to another area. They have a tram that stops and picks up wheelchair guests only. They’re able to pull that tram out of the way so that however much time is needed to load someone can be given without backing up the other trams.

I’d forgotten how they don’t stop on this for anything; except maybe an animal crossing. Kuddos to those people actually able to take photos on this ride. I couldn’t do it. No matter how I set my camera’s settings; I couldn’t get anything but blur like this:

Oh, wait. I got an ostridge.

Out of the two dozen photos I attempted to take; I got an ostridge. Swell.

Moving on. The lions were out. Baby Red – or whatever – was saved from the poachers and we were back at the beginning and kicked off of our African safari. We decided to stop at one of the trails to explore. Please don’t ask me which one; this had been my first time to ever explore one. But it’s the one that you see as you exit the Safari. That one.

We stop first and see this guy

And for some reason, we’re fascinated by him. We’re just standing (or sitting in my grandmother’s case) there having a discussion about him. Well, at least three of us were. I suddenly come to the realization that one Mother was MIA.

*sigh*

I look around the area for her to no avail. I try to call her cell, can’t reach her. We finally move on down the trail. I really wasn’t fascinated with it much. I know, I know… all the AK lovers are screaming at their computer monitors right about now: ‘What’s wrong with you!!! How can you not like the animals??? Are you crazy???’

That is a possibility, but that’s for another discussion.

I see fish.

And ducks and fish

And more ducks and fish.

And more fish.

Finally, I’m able to reach my mother via cell phone (what would we ever do without them. Thankfully, this wasn’t the 1980’s that I temporarily lost my mother at the AK. Seriously, I lose my mother everywhere. Wal-Mart, Target, you name the place and I’m sure to lose her. She wonders off and then blames it on me. Typical mothers.

*sigh*

Her current location is at the gorillas. Gorillas? Haven’t seen those yet. Stay there. Don’t move. Wait for us –ok? OK. Good. Moving on to the gorillas and I meet this guy.

He doesn’t look too happy and is giving me the evil eye. Hmmm…..

There’s this guy sitting a few yards over, he seems happy

You know, he’s minding his own business. Playing with his green bowl. He seemed happy enough. But not this guy:

No, he’s staring me down. So I stare back. He stares some more. I stare even more. Seriously? I’m winning this stare down. Really, I am. And the gorilla knows it too. In fact, he gets so mad at me for losing the stare down that decides to go and make his friend unhappy also. I’m turning to leave when I hear a loud whack!

Mean gorilla walked over and smacked the green bowl out of nice gorilla's hands and scares nice gorilla off.

Mean gorilla.

I walk off as the mean gorilla is angrily kicking the empty green dish around with his foot.

 

[Dolce27]

Finally caught up with my mother, we exit the trail and head over to Camp Minnie Mickey for a show of The Festival of the Lion King. This would be a first for all of us. While Tamera goes to WDW about every year, it has been five years since she last visited the AK. She and my uncle didn’t enjoy pushing a baby stroller around a crowded AK and had been skipping the park on subsequent visits. She also hadn’t been to the Studios since 1993? She and my Uncle visited once and hated it. They go to the MK and EPCOT when they come to Disney and MK and EPCOT. Yeah, that’s pretty much it. This girl needs to explore! and I was determined to show her around. Once again, we went through the handicap queue for the show and were let into the theater a few minutes before the rest of the line so that we could be seated on the reserved ADA seats. There was a family, without a wheelchair or any other disabilities, seated on the row in front of us. We began chatting with them and found out that they were getting VIP treatment. The college age daughter was friends with one of the show’s performers so they were let in early for seats in the area she’d be performing at and they were also led backstage, right behind the performers, as the show ended. The girl seemed really excited to see her friend perform.

I must admit. I really enjoyed this show. I am not big on shows at Disney. At all. Which is funny as I love the theater. I’ve taken college theater classes in London, England where I was required to attend the theater on an almost weekly basis (it seemed) for months and loved it. I get bored with attempting to watch a live performance at Disney for some strange reason. There had been one exception until now: the Aladdin show at California Adventure in California. I managed to talk myself into seeing that show while there and really enjoyed it. So, I decided to give this show a try and it was pretty good and over way too quick. We were in the elephant section; just FYI.

(They tell you that you can use flash for this show, but I still kept my flash off)

So, yes, to any of you on here that has not seen this show before; I, as a person that isn’t really into Disney stage shows, do recommend this one. We all loved it.

Show over, it is now time to escape the theater. I’m pushing the wheelchair again. Actually, I feel bad for making my aunt do it – it’s my b-day trip and I’m the reason that she’s even at Disney World that this moment. I want her to enjoy herself. But there is one problem: I’m not a licensed wheelchair driver and it is a crowded mess attempting to get out of not only the theater, but also out of Camp Minnie Mickey. The park is beginning to fill with crowds. This is, after all, Disney’s busiest week.

I apologize to all of you that I ran over with the wheel chair. I tried not to; really, I did.

Last item to do for that morning, before Mom and Granny head back to their hotel for a rest; Wonders of Life. They are both huge bird lovers. My mother has always wanted a parrot. Always. I could be a good daughter and buy her one; I guess. But, then, she never bought me the monkey I wanted as a kid.

(Just something to think about parents….. )

However, my mother does own a cockatiel named Patches that can whistle the first line of Jingle Bells and he also likes to wolf whistle at women.

So, long line for Wonders of Life. I am finally able to push my grandmother over to the entrance without killing a person (thank goodness) and again, we were let in and placed in a ADA section. The CM had asked us if we wanted this ADA section or that ADA section. I had no idea so I told her to just put us wherever she thought was best. We really couldn’t see the stage well from where we were sat.

They really should have designed this seating with a steeper pitch so that viewing visibility would be better. Fortunately my camera does have a zoom and I was able to dodge some heads in front of me for a few photos.

And I finally figured out why the CM put us where she did…..

Sorry for the blur, but it’s hard to get a good shot when you have a bird flying towards your head. And he did – just inches above the top of my head (according to my mom) and he landed just behind me

The show ended and we made our way out of the crowded theater and into the even more crowded park. *sigh* It was time for food; we all agreed. Food was going to be a problem at this park. My mother is allergic to tomatoes. You’re thinking; ok? She can’t eat a tomato. Well, she also can’t eat pizza or pasta with marinara sauce. Nor can she eat bbq as that’s also tomato based. Anyone seeing the problem here? In this park? We have pizza or bbq or bbq…. for the most part. BUT, there was one item at Pizzafari (ironically) that didn’t look to have tomatoes of any kind in it so that was the direction in which we headed. I ate here in 2006 and loved it, actually. I had a cheese pizza and a slice of chocolate cake (as I had been on the Dining Plan that trip and received dessert with my meals). That chocolate cake had been soooo good. It was an actual slice of cake, tasted homemade. It wasn’t served in the little round plastic container that all of Disney’s counter service cakes are sold in; it was a huge slice that appeared to have just been cut from a cake. Soo good. So, so good.

And I wanted more. I order the exact same thing this time; Cheese pizza, Diet Coke (gotta cut calories somewhere – right?) and chocolate cake. I pay my money and I move forward to wait. My tray is filled with pizza and Diet Coke … and that’s it. Where’s the cake?!?! The CM shows me that the cake was never ordered.

What to do, what to do?

I want my cake, I tell you.

I turn around a lightly tap the cashier to gain her attention. I know I’m being impatient (But I’m now holding up a line) and I know she didn’t take well to my light impersonal tap, but I’ve had people do that to me and figure no big deal so she was just going to have to deal with it as I wanted my cake!

I politely ask her to place the cake order, as I didn’t get it on my first order. She does and I get my cake.

Very happily, I walk off to find where my mother had grabbed a table for us. I walk to one of the extremely empty rooms and don't see her. I walk back towards the food area to the extremely crowded seating area and find her. (My mom and I need to have a chat about not following the crowds….) Oh, well. At least she got a table. Since I was there, she was able to go up to order her food.

Both Tamera and my grandmother make their way over and we sit around, not really wanting to begin without my mother. We wait and wait. I think we do begin to pick at our food. I finally get up to go and see what the hold up is and spot her at the counter; so I go back to my seat.

Finally, she arrives, food in hand, at our table. The hold-up? Since she’s allergic to tomatoes it had to be cleared with management that the one, and only, non-tomato item on the menu didn’t have tomatoes in it. I, mean, I’m glad that they were cautious as my mother’s throat would begin swelling shut should she eat tomatoes, but apparently the manager was hard to locate so my mother had to stand at the counter for quite some time waiting for her food to clear. Poor mom.

We eat. I’m the only one with dessert. The cake there wasn’t the huge, tasted like homemade, slice that I had in 2006; but it was still really good. After we finish, we go with mom and Granny back to the front of the Tree of Life where Mom pushes Granny off towards the exit and Tamera and I head over to Asia.

Yes, Tamera, you’re going on that thing. No backing out now.

She’s on. She can’t escape. And we’re off through the mountains.

After I returned, I asked her how it was. She enjoyed it, but never again.

“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Just one more time?”
“No.”

“Ok..ok.. well, since you liked that one.. how about Rockin’ Rollercoaster over at the Studios?”
“We’ll… ok.”
“Right now?”
“Sure.. why not?”

We head to exit the park and find a bus for DHS. On our way out I notice a crowd staring at something and immediately see Devine for my first time.

My aunt is still mystified over how I spotted her, but I kind of had an idea of what to look for when I glanced over and saw a medium sized crowd seemingly staring at nothing. After a moment of observing Devine, we’re off once again. Out of the park and to the bus stop to hop on the first bus to DHS. I was not taking the chance for my aunt to back out of Rockin’ Rollercoaster.

No way.

Nope, not happening.

 

[Dolce27]

Yet Friday has come and gone but . Love the updates and thought you just had a photobucket memory till you said you took notes! Well, the notes are paying off, this is def. one of the best TR on the boards IMHO. Keep it up

Sorry. I had a bad Friday and wound up at a wine bar with co-workers instead of home to update my TR.

Here's one.....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1646650

Yup... Disneyland. I took a friend who wasn't so into Disney. I will never do that again. Honestly, I don't think she really wanted to go to DL in the first place. She has a friend that lives in LA and is in the music biz. I think she just wanted to split hotel costs so she could go and visit him. She said he could get her into VIP stuff in LA. But she found out, when she arrived at LAX, that he got called to Atlanta for the week-end and she was stuck with me at Disney. If you've already read my report, you see how that turns out.

I did it! I finished your TR - and most of it in one sitting...I'm exhausted...

Great work - I've loved every minute of it. You've inspired me with your solo trip - I'll be doing the same in late April - woo hoo for me!

And I second all the comments - one of my favorite TRs, too. And beautiful shots -- all those on a point and shoot, impressive.

Did you take any pics with your DSLR? I'd love to see them.

Note to self: no flashes and 2 second delay on night shots. Now I have to figure out how to do that on my camera.

Again, fabulous job on your TR --

Don't move away from that computer yet! I just gave you more to read. I'm about to start on my next installment tonight.

Disclaimer: doesn’t mean that it will be posted tonight.

Oh, I didn't take my DSLR on this trip. I didn't want to lug it around a theme park.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

Yay, an update! I am so loving your TR, Dolce

 

[debbieandroo]

Yay! An update!!!!

You are woman, here you roar! I can't imagine skinny little you pushing a wheelchair through AK - you go, girl! You definitely needed that chocolate cake, Dolce. And it needed you .

And, like, I want to get to parks early but before daylight - you are hardcore. I'm with Tamera on the breakfast thing, too - that's why I always take granola bars with me, just in case [although I rarely get up that early, not even for AK!].

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Disclaimer: doesn’t mean that it will be posted tonight

Stupid disclaimer.....and all the loopholes it creates!

 

[onelilspark]

Yay! An update!

 

[Dolce27]

We arrive at the Studios and I’m excited to show Tamera “my” park. She still wasn’t all that impressed. Oh, well. She can't be perfect. We walk over to RnR which, of course, had a long wait time so we grabbed FP’s to use later that night. We then wonder off to explore the park. We bump into High school Musical 3 over by Lights, Motors, Action! and I couldn’t get away fast enough. Nope, not into that High school Musical stuff. Sorry, to all of your fans. (And I know that there are some…. )

You know, all of that hard walking calls for a little something….

With dripping soft serve ice cream cones in hand (Thanks, Gertie!) we head back to the entrance and walk back to the Boardwalk Inn. This was Tamera’s first walk from the Studios to The Boardwalk Inn.

She didn’t like it.

At all.

“Can we take the ferry?”

“No.”

Back to the hotel, Tamera takes a nap while I read. I don’t do naps, naps are evil. I attempted to take a nap one day on my 2006 trip; messed. me. up. for the rest of the day. No naps, evil naps. I read instead and finally finish Breaking Dawn.

I had told my mother that we’d meet them at DHS around 4:40 – 4:45 ish. At 4:20 I receive a phone call from my mother

“Where are you?”

“At the hotel. Where are you?”

“At the Studios. You said to meet at 4:15.”

“No, I didn’t. I said 4:45.”

“No, you said 4:15.”

*sigh*

“We’ll be there as fast as we can.”

I get Tamera up and moving and we power walk back to DHS.

“Can we take the ferry?”

“No.”

We arrive at the front of the park around 4:30 and find both my mother and grandmother camped out in front. Now, here’s the deal: I promised my grandmother that she wouldn’t have to get a wheelchair tonight. My mother and Tamera were both against this idea; they wanted her in a wheelchair. I explained to them that while my grandmother grudgingly admitted that she never would have made it at the AK that morning with all of those hills, she still wasn’t sold on the idea of a wheelchair. This would be the easiest evening for her to walk and figure out on her own that she did, in fact, need a wheelchair.

Trust me, she did.

With that explanation, both my mother and Tamera stopped arguing as they understood that my grandmother was going to have to accept this on her own so off we went, each of us concerned over my grandmother.

Since there was time before our ADR at the 50’s Prime Time Café, we shopped. What else are girls to do? I finally found a gift for Julie. It was a Alice in Wonderland tea set. Actually, it was a one serving with a small porcelain tea pot sitting on top of a porcelain mug. It was really nice and I hoped that she would like it; I was at a loss for what to buy for her. I paid for my purchase and had it shipped back to my hotel.

We slowly make our way over to the 50’s Prime Time Café. I’ve eaten here about 2 – 3 times before and it was alright. I never had a server that go “into” it. My servers were always just normal. No fun at all. I hoped for otherwise tonight, I knew this would be something both my mother and grandmother would enjoy… a little concerned about my aunt liking it. We walk in and I check-in a little early. The bar area – what is it? Tune In Lounge?- is decorated for Christmas.

The couch frees up and my mother, grandmother and aunt all take a seat. I stand back, by the check-in counter, to take a photo of the three of them
when the guy behind the counter begins nagging at me to get into the photo myself; there needs to be a photo with me in it. I’m objecting, stating that this was fine and I only wanted a picture of them. He grabs the hood of the sweater, pulling me back in order to grab the camera when I turn the camera around and snap a pic

See? Now I’m in a picture. Nope, not good enough. He calls out to a passing sever to take pictures. Somehow the server winds up with my camera in his hands. I expect him to take our photo. Nope. Not happening. Off walks the server and with him, off walks my camera. I plop down on the couch with everyone else to wait. He’d have to show back up sometime – right? Right? Finally, the server reappears with a few added photos on my memory card

He finally decides to take our picture. However, I first have to explain to him what I want.

Finally

A photo of all of us and I get my camera back. Right then our name is called and we’re seated. Cousin Cooper

arrives and begins to ask who I was; he said my name and I cut him off. I figured out quickly that my ADR was noted with my birthday. I didn’t ask for it to be noted but every time I called in to Disney Dining or Reservations I was too excited about my birthday trip to not go on and on and on about it. Apparently one CM decided to notate it.

Cousin Cooper threw down the napkins and silverware and told us to set the table while he got our drinks. Tamera did the honors.

My mother and Tamera were seated next to a television and they had fun watching the clips to see what they recalled from their childhood

Drinks arrived for everyone except me; I had ordered a peanut butter and jelly milkshake. What? That’s a drink. Of sorts. Cousin Cooper delivers all of the other drinks and then takes off towards the bar in search of mine.

My mother decides a straw sword fight with Tamera is in order.

*sigh*

The fight begins.

The Diet Coke if the first to fall.

*sigh*

Mothers.

The guy from up front, the one that had been demanding that I be in pictures and not just take them, walks by and stops. And stares. And slowly shakes his head as he looks accusingly at my mother. He walks off and then reappears with a huge pile of napkins before he walks off again, still shaking his head. My mother, Tamera and I quickly clean up the mess and finish just as Cousin Cooper returns with my milkshake. He didn’t look surprised about the Diet Coke; he just shakes his head at my mother and scolds her.

We place our order. Pot Roast all around except for my grandmother who wants the fried chicken. Off Cousin Cooper goes again. I’m happily slurping down my yummy milkshake as Mom and Tamera’s attention is once again drawn to the small television box. I quickly finish my milkshake in the glass.. but that’s alright; Cousin Cooper had brought out the blender cup with more in it. I pick up the blender cup (or whatever that is called) and try to carefully pour more of the shake into my glass. Yeah, doesn’t happen. It was all clumped together and

Splat!

A huge chunk lands on the table instead of in my glass just as Cousin Cooper arrives back at our table with another Diet Coke for my mother. With a lot of sighs and rolls of the eyes, he shakes his head and walks off again.

The food finally arrives and with it, Cousin Cooper remembered to bring out my other drink that I had ordered with it: Mickey’s Bee Bop Drink. What? It sounded like fun and I enjoyed all of the different colors throughout my meal

Just because I was over the age of 12 didn’t mean that I couldn’t order it.

Stop judging me.



I had a problem with the food: I had ordered the pot roast because it really didn’t come with vegetables; I didn’t want to be forced to eat all of my vegetables. But after the milkshake, I was having serious trouble finding room in my stomach for food.

I ate half of my pot roast and then no more. I couldn’t. I hurt, my stomach was that full. Cousin Cooper kept coming by to check on my status. The other three cleaned off their plates but mine was still half full and it was staying that way! Cousin Cooper came back with Clean Plate stickers for Mom, Tamera and Granny. He just gave me a threatening look before he wondered off again. I tried to get rid of the food. I put some on my grandmother’s plate but she just rolled her eyes at me and refused to help me out there. My mother attempted a few bites herself.

 

[Dolce27]

Dessert time. I really, really, really wanted to try the S’mores

(Don’t they look good?)

Mom and Tamera ordered dessert with Tamera ordering the S’mores.

“I get a small bite? Please? Please? Please?”

My half full plate is still before me. I’m still receiving glares from Cousin Cooper. My mother finally switches plates with me, exchanging my half full one for her empty one which fooled no one, least of all Cousin Cooper.

With a sigh, Cousin Cooper came back and presented me with a cupcake and a birthday card. He also had our section sing Happy Birthday to me.

I could only manage half of the cupcake, I really was that full. Desserts arrived and I managed one small bite of the S’mores. I liked. Next time I’m ordering the PB&J milkshake and the S’mores for my dinner. That’s it.

I love being an adult; I can do what I want.

A manger is walking by, wearing a lanyard, and realizes that I was the only one of the three that didn’t finish their entrée. He looks at their Clean Club stickers they are all wearing proudly on their shirts (braggarts!) and then to my sticker-less shirt. He then looks at my free birthday cupcake and then back to their Clean Club stickers.

“Why does Disney give you something for free when you didn’t finish your meal?” He asks me.

“That’s what I want to know!” My mother chimes in. My mother and the manager then proceed to go on about how “unfair” it was that I got a freebie from Disney when I didn’t finish my food. Oh, but he was going to correct it. Yes, he was.

He turned to my grandmother first and held out his lanyard. “Pick one” She picked a pin off of the lanyard, then my mother picked one and then Tamera picked one. I knew that I was going to be pinless. Oh well. I got a cupcake. A half eaten cupcake. Maybe I should have requested a to-go box. Does Disney do that???

Surprisingly, the manager turns to me last and explains that I can have a pin if, and only if, I answer three out of four trivia questions correctly. He asks the first question and I get it wrong. However, as I’m giving the incorrect answer I realize my mistake and quickly follow-up with the correct answer just as he’s giving it to me. It didn’t count. I ace the next three questions and proudly pick out my pin

Dinner complete, I reluctantly leave. I’d been having so much fun, I didn’t want it to end. That meal wound up being one of the highlights of my trip.

We slowly began our way over to the Osborne Lights. The journey takes awhile. We had to find benches along the way to allow my grandmother a moment or two to rest. Finally, we make it over to the dazzling lights. Everyone is fully impressed as they watch thousands of lights dance around in choreographed movements set to music. But we don’t stay for but a couple of minutes before we begin the long, and slow, trek to the opposite end of the park for Fantasmic!.

When we reached the end of Sunset Blvd., they hadn’t even let the line into the queue area to line for the show. Everyone was in a line formed on Sunset Blvd. By this point, Tamera and I both had one of my grandmother’s arms and were helping to support her as she walked. We find a spot at the end of the queue but don’t have to wait for long before they allow everyone into the amphitheater queue to wait.

Squished inside the holding area, Tamera gets shoved back by the crowd and only I’m holding onto my grandmother. The three of us kept sending worried looks at each other; I was the only support she had. My grandmother was in desperate need of a seat. I could tell that my grandmother wasn’t doing well, but we couldn’t do anything about it. Tamera later told me that her other side began slanting downward and she became terrified that my grandmother was about to crumple right there on the ground. Not that there would have been much room for my grandmother to make it to the ground. But, again, because of the crowds, Tamera couldn’t move back up to my grandmother’s other side and help support her.

I began silently praying that the line would begin moving and just as I did, it began moving. With crowd movement, Tamera was able to shove back up and grab her other arm. We began the long trek up into the amphitheater. By the time we arrived, most of the middle sections were already filled. We moved to our left with the crowd and I spotted a CM standing towards the top of the Scar section (which was also full). I called out to him to ask if there was anywhere close that we could sit. He took one look at my grandmother and stepped aside to reveal that he had been standing in front of a bench reserved for the handicap and told us to sit there. We get my grandmother situated and I go back over to the guy. I was trying to figure out how to get my grandmother from the amphitheater to the front of the park after the show was over. I simply informed him that we should have gotten her a wheelchair when he cut me off and he told me to not worry about it, he’d have a wheelchair available for us over by the wall (to which he pointed towards) after the show.

Relieved, I join the others and inform them that’d we’d have a chair for my grandmother after the show. Everyone looked relieved, including my grandmother. They all chatted as we waited for the show to begin. I love this show. Back when I was a CM I worked this show most nights and never bored of it.

The show was good, as usual. I had to tell a couple members of my family to shut-up *ahem* TamerandMom *ahem* during it. Watch the show; talk later! OK, maybe my grandmother was being a chatterbox also. So, all of my family!

*sigh*

Family!

Apparently a couple of teens got into an actual fight. There parent’s weren’t happy when they were all escorted out of the show – and I’m sure the park as well. But I really didn’t notice. Mom had to inform me later. I watched the show. You know, like you’re supposed to do Mom, Tamera and Granny?

I managed to snap a few pic’s at the end: