fairy god aunt
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2003
- Messages
- 141
Cast: Me -aunt of princesses and obsessive planner; MomMom of princesses ("MM")- recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and using a wheelchair for the first time; Sherri ("S") -- mother of princesses, MM's daughter and my sister; Mick ("M") - father of princesses; Princess Marie -- almost 8, 3rd trip to DW; Princesses Christa and Noelle - 3.5 year old twins, 2nd trip to DW
Staying at the Grand Floridian for 6 nights; Rennaissance Orlando for 2 nights
Day 2 -- Dumbo is our goal!
We planned Day 2 to be a Magic Kingdom Day. It was Sunday so we were looking forward to the extra hour in the a.m. Up bright and early and all kids are cooperating. We get there right before 8 and plan to go to Dumbo first, per Tour Guide Mike's instructions. We finally get through security to the gate when S realizes that she has forgotten (lost?) the passes. UGH! M goes running back to the GF via the boat. (We always used the monorail to go to MK and the boat to return and it worked great!) As the time ticks away, we are becoming more concerned that he won't find the passes and that we are missing the entire extra hour. Finally it dawns on me that the nice people at Paramount sent a photocopy of our tickets with them so if M can't find them maybe we can use the photocopy to get replacements. (By the way, I love Paramount -- we got a great rate on 7 day PH plus passes and a free character breakfast!) I call M at the room -- he just found them and is on his way back. He finally gets there about 8:50 -- I try to hide my disappointment that the plans are ruined and we head to Dumbo.
Much to my surprise, the wait is not very long and because MM is in a wheelchair, we bypass part of the line. It starts to rain but after yesterday's down pours, it isn't too bad. Onto the Caroussel -- little to no wait. We then do the its a small world (with no wait -- we actually have to hurry down the line). Water mishap #1 -- anxious to get out of the boat fast so I can help MM I manage to drop her jacket. Before I know it is in drifting down the river with no way to stop it. M attempts to go after it but is shouted down by the CMs who assure us they'll get it back. After a short time they do. We send M and the girls to go wait for Ariel to open at 10 a.m. We have fast passes for Peter Pan so we have some time to kill. Right after we send M and the girls, we get the jacket and are off to Ariel -- and just in time. She opened a half hour early. We get there just as the girls are going up with their books. (We bought Disney princess memory maker kit and stickered the pages according to the characters we would see -- the kids loved it and except for the slight pain of finding the right page for the right character, it went well.) Next we are off to Tea Cups and then we hit ToonTown. We do the houses and go to the Character Festival looking for Donald and Daisy but all the characters that are there we will see later so we pass it. We grap some fruit, ditch the rain again and then are off to Peter Pan with our FPs. I LOVED this ride -- it was great. Afterward, Christa claimed to be afraid of the pirate but she's a bit of a drama queen at times -- we don't think she was really scared.
Next stop FPs for Haunted Mansion. Then, lunch at Columbia Harbour (the fruit didn't do it). We were all pleasantly surprised by this place. The chili was great and we were early enough that we didn't have to wait. MM and I shared the chicken fingers and it was plenty (of course we also had fruit half hour before). Onto to HM where Marie (the almost 8 year) has a complete meltdown. She is terrified -- she's been on it before with no problem. The twins are fine -- they giggle with a little apprehension -- but Marie ties her sweater around her eyes and won't watch a thing. Go figure. I tell her when it is over but she stays in the car until I have to basically pull her out -- she almost went on it again -- by herself! NExt stop, Country Bears -- one of our favorites and it doesn't disappoint. Then onto Big Thunder, with a 20 minute wait. First we try and get FPs for Splash but they were either already out or too far away. I hate roller coasters and so have never ridden Big Thunder -- but I did and loved it. It was just my speed. The girls went wild! On the way back, we do Hall of Presidents. We are a little early (20 minutes) for the next show -- but it is air conditioned so we don't mind. We always skip this so I was happy to finally do it. Marie liked it a lot, Noelle didn't like the fighting. Christa was in a good mood so she also liked it.
Wow -- it is about 1:00 and we accomplished more than we could have hoped for so it is back to GF for a rest. We are a late getting back for our 4:05 PS at Liberty Tree Tavern (we get there at 4:30) but it isn't a problem. Once again, we've never done this dinner and added it based upon disboards recommendations and we weren't disappointed. Good food and ggod character interaction. The twins wore their Minnie outfits. Minnie actually was the only character not to give them a lot of attention but the others were wonderful.
Off to Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean. Both are family favorites. I thought Christa would freak at going on PC but she's all smiles. We also do Alladin. We have to wait a while to do Alladin but it isn't too bad. Next it is off to Spectromagic to end the day. We are able to get wheelchair seating for all 7 of us. M and I run to get Dolewhips cones for the group. That doesn't work well -- they drip all over us on the way back but taste great. We give the girls their flashlights that we got from Disney at Halloween and that distracts them until the parade is about to start. I see them selling the tinkerbelle twirling things. They are so cute -- would somebody please ask for one!!! Finally, Marie comes through and I buy one for each of the girls. Would it be wrong to get one for me too?? I resist the urge. Spectromagic is as wonderful as ever. Minnie is at the end and when she leaves, Christa has a breakdown -- "but I love Minnie; I don't want her to leave". It's late and so we skip the Fireworks and head out. (We have an Illuminations cruise later in the week so it's not a big deal). As we arrive at the GF dock, the Fireworks begin but we only watch a few minutes -- it is too late and we need sleep.
We accomplished more than I could have hoped for without long lines and the kids were wonderful! By far, the best day we've ever had in Disney -- this planning stuff really works. Even MM who doesn't like to hear about plans is impressed. Wheelchair hasn't been a problem either. Tomorrow -- pirate cruise and Animal Kingdom.
Staying at the Grand Floridian for 6 nights; Rennaissance Orlando for 2 nights
Day 2 -- Dumbo is our goal!
We planned Day 2 to be a Magic Kingdom Day. It was Sunday so we were looking forward to the extra hour in the a.m. Up bright and early and all kids are cooperating. We get there right before 8 and plan to go to Dumbo first, per Tour Guide Mike's instructions. We finally get through security to the gate when S realizes that she has forgotten (lost?) the passes. UGH! M goes running back to the GF via the boat. (We always used the monorail to go to MK and the boat to return and it worked great!) As the time ticks away, we are becoming more concerned that he won't find the passes and that we are missing the entire extra hour. Finally it dawns on me that the nice people at Paramount sent a photocopy of our tickets with them so if M can't find them maybe we can use the photocopy to get replacements. (By the way, I love Paramount -- we got a great rate on 7 day PH plus passes and a free character breakfast!) I call M at the room -- he just found them and is on his way back. He finally gets there about 8:50 -- I try to hide my disappointment that the plans are ruined and we head to Dumbo.
Much to my surprise, the wait is not very long and because MM is in a wheelchair, we bypass part of the line. It starts to rain but after yesterday's down pours, it isn't too bad. Onto the Caroussel -- little to no wait. We then do the its a small world (with no wait -- we actually have to hurry down the line). Water mishap #1 -- anxious to get out of the boat fast so I can help MM I manage to drop her jacket. Before I know it is in drifting down the river with no way to stop it. M attempts to go after it but is shouted down by the CMs who assure us they'll get it back. After a short time they do. We send M and the girls to go wait for Ariel to open at 10 a.m. We have fast passes for Peter Pan so we have some time to kill. Right after we send M and the girls, we get the jacket and are off to Ariel -- and just in time. She opened a half hour early. We get there just as the girls are going up with their books. (We bought Disney princess memory maker kit and stickered the pages according to the characters we would see -- the kids loved it and except for the slight pain of finding the right page for the right character, it went well.) Next we are off to Tea Cups and then we hit ToonTown. We do the houses and go to the Character Festival looking for Donald and Daisy but all the characters that are there we will see later so we pass it. We grap some fruit, ditch the rain again and then are off to Peter Pan with our FPs. I LOVED this ride -- it was great. Afterward, Christa claimed to be afraid of the pirate but she's a bit of a drama queen at times -- we don't think she was really scared.
Next stop FPs for Haunted Mansion. Then, lunch at Columbia Harbour (the fruit didn't do it). We were all pleasantly surprised by this place. The chili was great and we were early enough that we didn't have to wait. MM and I shared the chicken fingers and it was plenty (of course we also had fruit half hour before). Onto to HM where Marie (the almost 8 year) has a complete meltdown. She is terrified -- she's been on it before with no problem. The twins are fine -- they giggle with a little apprehension -- but Marie ties her sweater around her eyes and won't watch a thing. Go figure. I tell her when it is over but she stays in the car until I have to basically pull her out -- she almost went on it again -- by herself! NExt stop, Country Bears -- one of our favorites and it doesn't disappoint. Then onto Big Thunder, with a 20 minute wait. First we try and get FPs for Splash but they were either already out or too far away. I hate roller coasters and so have never ridden Big Thunder -- but I did and loved it. It was just my speed. The girls went wild! On the way back, we do Hall of Presidents. We are a little early (20 minutes) for the next show -- but it is air conditioned so we don't mind. We always skip this so I was happy to finally do it. Marie liked it a lot, Noelle didn't like the fighting. Christa was in a good mood so she also liked it.
Wow -- it is about 1:00 and we accomplished more than we could have hoped for so it is back to GF for a rest. We are a late getting back for our 4:05 PS at Liberty Tree Tavern (we get there at 4:30) but it isn't a problem. Once again, we've never done this dinner and added it based upon disboards recommendations and we weren't disappointed. Good food and ggod character interaction. The twins wore their Minnie outfits. Minnie actually was the only character not to give them a lot of attention but the others were wonderful.
Off to Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean. Both are family favorites. I thought Christa would freak at going on PC but she's all smiles. We also do Alladin. We have to wait a while to do Alladin but it isn't too bad. Next it is off to Spectromagic to end the day. We are able to get wheelchair seating for all 7 of us. M and I run to get Dolewhips cones for the group. That doesn't work well -- they drip all over us on the way back but taste great. We give the girls their flashlights that we got from Disney at Halloween and that distracts them until the parade is about to start. I see them selling the tinkerbelle twirling things. They are so cute -- would somebody please ask for one!!! Finally, Marie comes through and I buy one for each of the girls. Would it be wrong to get one for me too?? I resist the urge. Spectromagic is as wonderful as ever. Minnie is at the end and when she leaves, Christa has a breakdown -- "but I love Minnie; I don't want her to leave". It's late and so we skip the Fireworks and head out. (We have an Illuminations cruise later in the week so it's not a big deal). As we arrive at the GF dock, the Fireworks begin but we only watch a few minutes -- it is too late and we need sleep.
We accomplished more than I could have hoped for without long lines and the kids were wonderful! By far, the best day we've ever had in Disney -- this planning stuff really works. Even MM who doesn't like to hear about plans is impressed. Wheelchair hasn't been a problem either. Tomorrow -- pirate cruise and Animal Kingdom.
