Liz
Make a miracle!
- Joined
- Aug 18, 1999
- Messages
- 4,909
Our Family:
Me - 46, born & raised in Florida but have been gone since 1981. Love WDW, obsessive planner. Really want this trip to be nice because we're bringing a family of 1st timers! Writes trip reports with way too much detail but I just can't do it any other way!
Paul - DH 52 - Loves Disney but not as much as I do. He'd probably be happy to vacation some place else occasionally but as soon as we get home I'm planning our next trip before he has time to process what I'm doing!
Jeff - DS 17 - Raised on WDW and Disneyland and loves it all. Super friendly guy!
Laura - DD 16 - Loves WDW but doesn't handle the heat well. Gets tired easy but she has a good excuse. She had a heart transplant when she was 6 weeks old and had West Nile Virus in 2002. Doing really well though. Our sweetheart.
Our Friends:
MM - 40ish - Going to WDW for the wife & kids. Isn't really a theme park kind of guy. Really nice though.
JM - 40ish - My good friend! Been trying to get her DH to go to WDW for a couple of years now!
Mike - DS 16 - Jeff's best friend since probably Kindergarten.
Heidi - DD 13 - Laura's friend. Despite the age difference they get along great!
Today was our Magic Kingdom day! Laura's foot was still very red but it felt okay. I promised her we'd get her a wheelchair for the rest of our park days. She needed it and she'd be much happier.
Paul, Laura and I went down to the food court a little before 8:00 so we could see the people doing the twist! It didn't take much coaxing at all for Paul to join in! Oh wow, he sure doesn't worry about looking silly does he! As soon as he started that Laura took off in the opposite direction! The cast members seem to really enjoy having guests join them!
Jeff and Mike came running in and joined the dancing for a few brief minutes! It was a lot of fun!
Paul, Laura and I caught the first available bus to the Magic Kingdom so we could be up towards the front of the line to get her a wheelchair. The boys would wait for the rest of our group and meet us at the wheelchair rental place.
We saw the neat ceremony to open the park with the dancers and the train arriving with characters and guest family! Very cute!
By the time I rented the wheelchair, everyone else had arrived. It seemed like there were a ton of people entering the Magic Kingdom but once everyone spread out it didn't seem bad at all. We went straight to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We just parked Laura's wheelchair outside and we all walked in. The CM saw what we were doing and said we could wheel her around the go in the back entrance but we said this was fine. I think just keeping her off her feet so she wouldn't have to walk long distances will be just what she needs.
We had to have been one of the first riders of the day on Big Thunder! Its so fun! Just the right amount of scariness!!! Everyone else went on Splash Mtn. while I went to get some FP. I walked to Fantasyland (a lot farther than I thought) and got FP for Mickeys Philharmagic. By the time I made it back I was sure they would be off the ride and waiting for me but they weren't. I was really hurrying so when I got back to Splash Mtn. I was sweating a little. It seemed very hot, but when I wasn't hurrying super fast it wasn't unbearable.
We all went on Pirates and the Tiki Birds while waiting for our FP time. Aladdin would have been fun but its like Dumbo, if the line is the least bit long it takes too long and its not worth the wait. I sat with Laura while everyone else climbed the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. We all rode the Haunted Mansion together and then it was time for our FP for Philharmagic. This is my favorite 3D show in all of Disney World! After this we flew with Peter & Wendy on Peter Pan's Flight!
It looked like it was going to rain soon so I took us towards the Hall of Presidents. I knew the timing wasn't the best because we'd have to wait 20 minutes till the next show but it seemed like the best option. I was outvoted because no one wanted to wait for 20 minutes. Everyone (except me) decided this would be a good time to fit in the Jungle Cruise so we headed over there. Big mistake!!! Before we reached the Jungle Cruise the skies opened up and it started to rain . . . hard. All of us had ponchos (except Mike, who couldn't locate his) but before we could get any of the ponchos out and on we were wet!
We were able to board the boat pretty quick but Paul happened to be sitting in a spot where water was absolutely drenching him. He said he was going to move and I said he'd get in trouble. He said he didn't care! He moved and our boat captain (an older guy) said he needed to sit down and stay seated! Another man was sitting in a spot like Paul had been and he was getting drenched so he moved and the boat captain got mad again! Then this same guy, still apparently unable to find a seat where he wasn't getting drenched, moved a second time! I thought our boat captain was going to lose it! He said "what is wrong with you people!!!" Now it just seems to funny but at the time it was awful!!! I have to admit I was really wishing we were sitting in the Hall of Presidents, nice and dry, at that moment!!!
After getting off the cruise from . . . I mean the Jungle Cruise, we went back to the Hall of Presidents. We'd just missed the 12:00 showing and it was practically 30 min. now till the next one. It didn't seem like a good idea to go in anything air conditioned anyway. Since we were wet we would have frozen.
It took a minute to regroup and form a new plan. We needed to dry off and stay out of air conditioning. We headed for Tomorrowland! We hadn't been there yet. Upon arrival we got FP for Space Mountain. While waiting for our FP time we rode the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. I think this is my new favorite ride in all of Magic Kingdom! There's never a line, it lasts a reasonably long time (as far as rides go) and its so restful and relaxing. And no drops!!!
After everyone rode (but me) Space Mountain we had a choice to make. We had a PS at Trails End Buffet at Ft. Wilderness. That would require leaving the park and taking a boat across the lake. We could do that or stay at MK and continue to ride more rides. The decision was made to go to Trails End. I wasn't sure how long it would take to get there but I knew we were cutting it very close. Our PS time was for 1:20. I can't remember what time we left Tomorrowland but we had to hurry.
We had to wait a few minutes for the boat to take us across the lake. I wasn't sure how to find Trails End when we got there but I hoped it would be close. I told our fast boys as soon as the boat docked to take off and find Trails End, telling them we were close behind. Our boat docked at Ft. Wilderness about 1:25.
Luckily it didn't seem to matter that we were a little late for our PS. They weren't busy at all. We were all so glad we made the decision to go there. The food and server (Ed) were wonderful. I think we would all love to go there again. We didn't realize drinks were included in the price, but that made it an even better deal. And, of course, the 20% off with DDE didn't hurt either!
The rain continued. We sat on the porch after dinner in the rocking chairs and watched the rain. It is very beautiful at Ft. Wilderness! I think it would be fun to stay there some day (in a cabin, not a tent!)
After waiting awhile it appeared the rain wasn't going to let up so we continued on. Our friends decided to go back to Pop for awhile and rest. All the kids went with them. Paul and I decided to hop over to Epcot for a little bit and maybe check out the Grand Floridian if we had time. We were all going to meet back at Magic Kingdom at 6:30.
Paul and I took the monorail to Epcot, transferring at the Transportation & Ticket Center. I was feeling guilty about sending our kids back without us when MM & JM were going back to rest. But hopefully our kids are big enough that they wouldn't need to be "watched". I guess all the kids ended up hanging out in our room while the adults took a nap in theirs so it worked out.
At Epcot Paul and I were going to ride Spaceship Earth if the line wasn't too long. It was. We went in Innoventions and played a game. It was a group game with about 10 other people. I couldn't ever figure out how to do it and came in last place but Paul won!!! We also sent an e-mail postcard to Paul's sister and her husband.
We then headed over to the Living Seas to check out the Crush show. Figured if we could find out where it was it would save some time when we all came back together the next time. We had about a 30 min. wait but saw the show and it was really, really cute!
We didn't want to risk being late for our meeting time so we left Epcot. The line for Spaceship Earth was really short then but we passed on it, knowing we'd all probably go on it together on our next Epcot day.
We took the monorail back to the TTC and then got on the ferry to Magic Kingdom. It had stopped raining for awhile but began again. Luckily it wasn't a downpour.
Back at the Magic Kingdom we got the wheelchair in preparation for Laura's arrival. They arrived about 7:00, just missing the MK bus. No biggie, we just sat and people watched while waiting for them, and enjoyed being in the happiest place on earth!!! The boys hadn't come on the bus with them, but would meet us all a little later.
We all headed back to Tomorrowland for a trip on Buzz Lightyear! Lots of fun! Then we experienced another of my favorites, Carousel of Progress. I hope that never gets shut down. Its such a classic!
We met the boys outside Hall of Presidents and we all saw it. The boys still hadn't gone on Buzz so we all decided to go on it together. We made our way through the castle hub area, going down the center of the street with people lined up on the sides waiting for the 9:00 Spectro parade. Paul was pushing Laura in the wheelchair and we soon noticed she was crying! We were almost to Tomorrowland by then. We all stopped to see what was wrong and it seems as we were going through the hub some boys were swinging around their lighted swords and one of them smacked her hard on her upper arm. We looked and there was a round mark the size of a quarter that was quickly swelling. My heart broke. This poor child can't get a break. We thought about going back and trying to figure out where it happened and who did it, but that seemed pointless. What was done was done and it wouldn't make Laura feel any better.
Pretty soon she was feeling better and was ready to attack aliens on Buzz! After that everyone but JM and I went to see the new Stitch experience. While they were in there I tracked down a drink so Laura could take her meds and bought her some popcorn because I knew that would make her happy (it did).
It was getting dark so I got out some squishy rings I had brought from home (Wal-Mart 88 cents). When you push them they start blinking three different colors. They were really cool and fun to have in the dark. I had one for Laura and one for Heidi. Laura's still works, even now that we've been home a week, but Heidi's only worked for about an hour or so and then we couldn't get it to turn on again. Darn it! I wish I'd brought extra.
The boys each got a turkey leg for dinner. The rest of us headed to Cosmic Rays to get some food. I ordered a double cheeseburger with an extra bun. JM ordered the same. Both our extra buns came with burgers inside! Cool! Maybe it was because it was late and they were closing soon so they just wanted to get rid of them, I don't know. Maybe it was a bit of Disney magic! Whatever the reason, it was great!
After the world's fastest dinner (so we could get outside and find a place for Wishes), we headed over towards Fantasyland. I asked a CM stationed there if this was a good place to watch Wishes and she said it was. It was a very good place but we had to look back and forth to see them. Very pretty! This was my first time to ever see Wishes! Before we left home I'd said I wasn't going home this time without seeing Wishes this trip. Jeff said he hoped I didn't see them then (because then we wouldn't have to come home!)
After Wishes we all went on Small World. What a hoot that was! We had the back three rows of the boat and other people filled the front. Our two boys were on the very back row, obviously well rested and in a joyful mood because they sang quite happily along with the chorus throughout the whole ride! The rest of us sang along a little but mainly the boys! Many apologies to the people we shared the boat with!!! When we got off I guess JM apologized to them and they said it was okay, they enjoyed it!!! It was pretty funny!
We got in place for the SpectroMagic parade. The late parade sure doesn't have the crowds the early one does. We walked towards Main Street till we found a spot in Liberty Square that looked good.
While waiting we were treated to a great performance of Super Ramp Guy! This Jungle Cruise CM (who probably doesn't holler at people if they move when they are getting drenched on his boat) put on quite a show with his "super ramp"! This consisted of a clipboard, a plastic hat and a roll of masking tape! It was quite hilarious! He would roll his masking tape up the clipboard (which was propped up with the hat thus making the "super ramp"). He was assisted by a girl who picks up trash and another CM guy who worked Aladdin! It was great entertainment and made the time pass quickly till the parade arrived.
We enjoyed the Spectro parade, although I felt like my feet were getting bit by something. Hopefully not mosquitoes! I hurriedly got out my mosquito wipes but that was like closing the door after the horse has gotten out!
After the parade we made our way to the bus stop and there were hardly any crowds at all. We enjoyed seeing the beautiful castle change colors too!
Laura had a much better day today without having to walk so much (with the exception of being hit by a sword)!
Part 8 - Sea Racers, Gatorland & Downtown Disney
Me - 46, born & raised in Florida but have been gone since 1981. Love WDW, obsessive planner. Really want this trip to be nice because we're bringing a family of 1st timers! Writes trip reports with way too much detail but I just can't do it any other way!
Paul - DH 52 - Loves Disney but not as much as I do. He'd probably be happy to vacation some place else occasionally but as soon as we get home I'm planning our next trip before he has time to process what I'm doing!
Jeff - DS 17 - Raised on WDW and Disneyland and loves it all. Super friendly guy!
Laura - DD 16 - Loves WDW but doesn't handle the heat well. Gets tired easy but she has a good excuse. She had a heart transplant when she was 6 weeks old and had West Nile Virus in 2002. Doing really well though. Our sweetheart.
Our Friends:
MM - 40ish - Going to WDW for the wife & kids. Isn't really a theme park kind of guy. Really nice though.
JM - 40ish - My good friend! Been trying to get her DH to go to WDW for a couple of years now!
Mike - DS 16 - Jeff's best friend since probably Kindergarten.
Heidi - DD 13 - Laura's friend. Despite the age difference they get along great!
Today was our Magic Kingdom day! Laura's foot was still very red but it felt okay. I promised her we'd get her a wheelchair for the rest of our park days. She needed it and she'd be much happier.
Paul, Laura and I went down to the food court a little before 8:00 so we could see the people doing the twist! It didn't take much coaxing at all for Paul to join in! Oh wow, he sure doesn't worry about looking silly does he! As soon as he started that Laura took off in the opposite direction! The cast members seem to really enjoy having guests join them!
Jeff and Mike came running in and joined the dancing for a few brief minutes! It was a lot of fun!
Paul, Laura and I caught the first available bus to the Magic Kingdom so we could be up towards the front of the line to get her a wheelchair. The boys would wait for the rest of our group and meet us at the wheelchair rental place.
We saw the neat ceremony to open the park with the dancers and the train arriving with characters and guest family! Very cute!
By the time I rented the wheelchair, everyone else had arrived. It seemed like there were a ton of people entering the Magic Kingdom but once everyone spread out it didn't seem bad at all. We went straight to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We just parked Laura's wheelchair outside and we all walked in. The CM saw what we were doing and said we could wheel her around the go in the back entrance but we said this was fine. I think just keeping her off her feet so she wouldn't have to walk long distances will be just what she needs.
We had to have been one of the first riders of the day on Big Thunder! Its so fun! Just the right amount of scariness!!! Everyone else went on Splash Mtn. while I went to get some FP. I walked to Fantasyland (a lot farther than I thought) and got FP for Mickeys Philharmagic. By the time I made it back I was sure they would be off the ride and waiting for me but they weren't. I was really hurrying so when I got back to Splash Mtn. I was sweating a little. It seemed very hot, but when I wasn't hurrying super fast it wasn't unbearable.
We all went on Pirates and the Tiki Birds while waiting for our FP time. Aladdin would have been fun but its like Dumbo, if the line is the least bit long it takes too long and its not worth the wait. I sat with Laura while everyone else climbed the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. We all rode the Haunted Mansion together and then it was time for our FP for Philharmagic. This is my favorite 3D show in all of Disney World! After this we flew with Peter & Wendy on Peter Pan's Flight!
It looked like it was going to rain soon so I took us towards the Hall of Presidents. I knew the timing wasn't the best because we'd have to wait 20 minutes till the next show but it seemed like the best option. I was outvoted because no one wanted to wait for 20 minutes. Everyone (except me) decided this would be a good time to fit in the Jungle Cruise so we headed over there. Big mistake!!! Before we reached the Jungle Cruise the skies opened up and it started to rain . . . hard. All of us had ponchos (except Mike, who couldn't locate his) but before we could get any of the ponchos out and on we were wet!
We were able to board the boat pretty quick but Paul happened to be sitting in a spot where water was absolutely drenching him. He said he was going to move and I said he'd get in trouble. He said he didn't care! He moved and our boat captain (an older guy) said he needed to sit down and stay seated! Another man was sitting in a spot like Paul had been and he was getting drenched so he moved and the boat captain got mad again! Then this same guy, still apparently unable to find a seat where he wasn't getting drenched, moved a second time! I thought our boat captain was going to lose it! He said "what is wrong with you people!!!" Now it just seems to funny but at the time it was awful!!! I have to admit I was really wishing we were sitting in the Hall of Presidents, nice and dry, at that moment!!!
After getting off the cruise from . . . I mean the Jungle Cruise, we went back to the Hall of Presidents. We'd just missed the 12:00 showing and it was practically 30 min. now till the next one. It didn't seem like a good idea to go in anything air conditioned anyway. Since we were wet we would have frozen.
It took a minute to regroup and form a new plan. We needed to dry off and stay out of air conditioning. We headed for Tomorrowland! We hadn't been there yet. Upon arrival we got FP for Space Mountain. While waiting for our FP time we rode the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. I think this is my new favorite ride in all of Magic Kingdom! There's never a line, it lasts a reasonably long time (as far as rides go) and its so restful and relaxing. And no drops!!!
After everyone rode (but me) Space Mountain we had a choice to make. We had a PS at Trails End Buffet at Ft. Wilderness. That would require leaving the park and taking a boat across the lake. We could do that or stay at MK and continue to ride more rides. The decision was made to go to Trails End. I wasn't sure how long it would take to get there but I knew we were cutting it very close. Our PS time was for 1:20. I can't remember what time we left Tomorrowland but we had to hurry.
We had to wait a few minutes for the boat to take us across the lake. I wasn't sure how to find Trails End when we got there but I hoped it would be close. I told our fast boys as soon as the boat docked to take off and find Trails End, telling them we were close behind. Our boat docked at Ft. Wilderness about 1:25.
Luckily it didn't seem to matter that we were a little late for our PS. They weren't busy at all. We were all so glad we made the decision to go there. The food and server (Ed) were wonderful. I think we would all love to go there again. We didn't realize drinks were included in the price, but that made it an even better deal. And, of course, the 20% off with DDE didn't hurt either!
The rain continued. We sat on the porch after dinner in the rocking chairs and watched the rain. It is very beautiful at Ft. Wilderness! I think it would be fun to stay there some day (in a cabin, not a tent!)
After waiting awhile it appeared the rain wasn't going to let up so we continued on. Our friends decided to go back to Pop for awhile and rest. All the kids went with them. Paul and I decided to hop over to Epcot for a little bit and maybe check out the Grand Floridian if we had time. We were all going to meet back at Magic Kingdom at 6:30.
Paul and I took the monorail to Epcot, transferring at the Transportation & Ticket Center. I was feeling guilty about sending our kids back without us when MM & JM were going back to rest. But hopefully our kids are big enough that they wouldn't need to be "watched". I guess all the kids ended up hanging out in our room while the adults took a nap in theirs so it worked out.
At Epcot Paul and I were going to ride Spaceship Earth if the line wasn't too long. It was. We went in Innoventions and played a game. It was a group game with about 10 other people. I couldn't ever figure out how to do it and came in last place but Paul won!!! We also sent an e-mail postcard to Paul's sister and her husband.
We then headed over to the Living Seas to check out the Crush show. Figured if we could find out where it was it would save some time when we all came back together the next time. We had about a 30 min. wait but saw the show and it was really, really cute!
We didn't want to risk being late for our meeting time so we left Epcot. The line for Spaceship Earth was really short then but we passed on it, knowing we'd all probably go on it together on our next Epcot day.
We took the monorail back to the TTC and then got on the ferry to Magic Kingdom. It had stopped raining for awhile but began again. Luckily it wasn't a downpour.
Back at the Magic Kingdom we got the wheelchair in preparation for Laura's arrival. They arrived about 7:00, just missing the MK bus. No biggie, we just sat and people watched while waiting for them, and enjoyed being in the happiest place on earth!!! The boys hadn't come on the bus with them, but would meet us all a little later.
We all headed back to Tomorrowland for a trip on Buzz Lightyear! Lots of fun! Then we experienced another of my favorites, Carousel of Progress. I hope that never gets shut down. Its such a classic!
We met the boys outside Hall of Presidents and we all saw it. The boys still hadn't gone on Buzz so we all decided to go on it together. We made our way through the castle hub area, going down the center of the street with people lined up on the sides waiting for the 9:00 Spectro parade. Paul was pushing Laura in the wheelchair and we soon noticed she was crying! We were almost to Tomorrowland by then. We all stopped to see what was wrong and it seems as we were going through the hub some boys were swinging around their lighted swords and one of them smacked her hard on her upper arm. We looked and there was a round mark the size of a quarter that was quickly swelling. My heart broke. This poor child can't get a break. We thought about going back and trying to figure out where it happened and who did it, but that seemed pointless. What was done was done and it wouldn't make Laura feel any better.
Pretty soon she was feeling better and was ready to attack aliens on Buzz! After that everyone but JM and I went to see the new Stitch experience. While they were in there I tracked down a drink so Laura could take her meds and bought her some popcorn because I knew that would make her happy (it did).
It was getting dark so I got out some squishy rings I had brought from home (Wal-Mart 88 cents). When you push them they start blinking three different colors. They were really cool and fun to have in the dark. I had one for Laura and one for Heidi. Laura's still works, even now that we've been home a week, but Heidi's only worked for about an hour or so and then we couldn't get it to turn on again. Darn it! I wish I'd brought extra.
The boys each got a turkey leg for dinner. The rest of us headed to Cosmic Rays to get some food. I ordered a double cheeseburger with an extra bun. JM ordered the same. Both our extra buns came with burgers inside! Cool! Maybe it was because it was late and they were closing soon so they just wanted to get rid of them, I don't know. Maybe it was a bit of Disney magic! Whatever the reason, it was great!
After the world's fastest dinner (so we could get outside and find a place for Wishes), we headed over towards Fantasyland. I asked a CM stationed there if this was a good place to watch Wishes and she said it was. It was a very good place but we had to look back and forth to see them. Very pretty! This was my first time to ever see Wishes! Before we left home I'd said I wasn't going home this time without seeing Wishes this trip. Jeff said he hoped I didn't see them then (because then we wouldn't have to come home!)
After Wishes we all went on Small World. What a hoot that was! We had the back three rows of the boat and other people filled the front. Our two boys were on the very back row, obviously well rested and in a joyful mood because they sang quite happily along with the chorus throughout the whole ride! The rest of us sang along a little but mainly the boys! Many apologies to the people we shared the boat with!!! When we got off I guess JM apologized to them and they said it was okay, they enjoyed it!!! It was pretty funny!
We got in place for the SpectroMagic parade. The late parade sure doesn't have the crowds the early one does. We walked towards Main Street till we found a spot in Liberty Square that looked good.
While waiting we were treated to a great performance of Super Ramp Guy! This Jungle Cruise CM (who probably doesn't holler at people if they move when they are getting drenched on his boat) put on quite a show with his "super ramp"! This consisted of a clipboard, a plastic hat and a roll of masking tape! It was quite hilarious! He would roll his masking tape up the clipboard (which was propped up with the hat thus making the "super ramp"). He was assisted by a girl who picks up trash and another CM guy who worked Aladdin! It was great entertainment and made the time pass quickly till the parade arrived.
We enjoyed the Spectro parade, although I felt like my feet were getting bit by something. Hopefully not mosquitoes! I hurriedly got out my mosquito wipes but that was like closing the door after the horse has gotten out!
After the parade we made our way to the bus stop and there were hardly any crowds at all. We enjoyed seeing the beautiful castle change colors too!
Laura had a much better day today without having to walk so much (with the exception of being hit by a sword)!
Part 8 - Sea Racers, Gatorland & Downtown Disney
