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 3 -- Pirate Cruise and Animal Kingdom
Today, the girls are scheduled to go on the Pirate Cruise. Since Christa was a little freaked out about the pirate on the Peter Pan ride, we were a little concerned so we called it the Treasure Hunt cruise. Christa was fine except that she didn't want to wear the bandana, but Noelle (the baby by 7 minutes) didn't want to leave mommy. It came time to split up in pairs. Because Noelle was nervous, we paired her with Marie. There were a few uncomfortable minutes when we were looking for a buddy for Christa, but we found another girl a little older than her and they were fine. By this time, Noelle looked fine and off they went. The boat itself looked very safe. The sides are not open but are enclosed with plastic so the kids can't fall overboard.
While they were gone, me and MM went to the GF Cafe. We were supposed to have bfast at RainForest Cafe but decided MM could use the rest more. The GF Cafe bfast was very good and we then had a few minutes to go back to the room before going back to get the kids. M and S went to the Polynesian for bfast -- M had the banana french toast, which is a personal favorite of mine even if it does taste like desert. (We stayed at the Poly in 1997. I would have liked it more but for the fact that we paid rack rate and that seemed a bit much for me for motor lodge-type rooms -- but I digress.) S regretted not scheduled the character bfast here but we scheduled so many already and we already did it so we just couldn't fit it in this time.
When the girls came back, they were very sweaty and smily. All had a wonderful time and were so excited by the bag of trinkets they got at the end. The rest of the trip, we heard a lot (too many) of "ahoy maties". We concluded that this was money well spent. The kids were tired and we would have liked to get a nap for them, but we continued on because today was Animal Kingdom day. This brings me to a glitch in our planning. Monday is early entry day at AK. Since we would not be there at opening, we really should have picked another park for the afternoon. But, we had less "goals" for AK then other parks so we stuck with the plan and went to AK anyway.
We arrived at about 12:30 and headed straight for Lion King. There was a show starting in about 10 minutes so we rushed to get there. We didn't see this either of our two prior trips and so it was a must do today. Because MM was in the wheelchair, we were seated first and given great seats. No one cared that we had 7 people and the max is supposed to be 6. This show was awesome and because we were up front the girls got a lot of attention. They were picked to participate in the show, but Noelle (the baby) was too scared. Marie and Christa hammed it up and it was great! Great photo opp.
Next, we went to Kali River Rapids. (We decided to skip the Safari because of time constraints and we didn't really enjoy Pocohantas last time so we skipped that too.) We stopped for a wonderful root bear float on the way out of Camp Minnie and Mickey. The sign said Kali wait was 60 minutes and FPs were all gone. We decided to wait because M, S and the girls didn't do this last time because the twins were too little. It was sooooo hot and it was fairly difficult to push the chair because the road was uneven and uphill. It was much longer than 60 minutes -- closer to 2 hours. Noelle looked really tired. Finally, we get to the front and have to turn off for WC access. We tell the CMs that we will need two lap bars for the twins. They say fine but do nothing. When the next boat comes in, it has no lap bars. Instead of letting in go down empty and getting a boat with lap bars, they load the next handicapped party into it. We assume that we are going to get into the next boat but now they tell us that they can't have two handicap boats out at the same time so they have to wait for the last party to get back and then send that boat along and get another with lap bars. Why didn't they do that in the first place instead of letting the other party jump ahead of us? The CMs are very rude -- their attitude is basically, who cares, it will only be another 6 minutes until that boat is back. Well, 6 minutes is a lot when it is 100 degrees and you've been waiting two hours already and the kids are crying and me and MM put on our stupid plastic ponchos already. Why can't they just admit that they screwed up and apologize instead of being rude. A very non-Disney experience. Anyway, the ride is great but not worth the hassle. Me and MM get soaked but we had the ponchos on so we are fine. Marie is disappointed she didn't get wetter.
By the time the kids change and we get to the parade route, it is over. We have heard such good things about the parade but still haven't seen it. So, we decide to go to Dinoland. The kids go on the kiddie, dumbo-type ride and then me, M, S and Marie go on Dinosaur, which was a must do for me. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. By now, everyone is cranky and hungry and the park is closing soon. MM and S want to go to the Rain Forest for dinner. M thinks the line will be too long and wants to go back to the hotel. We go to the RF, after a few words between M and S, and see the wait will be 45-60 minutes. But, if we pay $15 and join a lcub we can get in in 5 -- done! We are seated and Noelle falls asleep on M. As usual, it takes forever for the food to come but when it does we enjoy it. Me, MM and Marie decides to stay and have desert, while M, S and the twins go back. MM tells Marie she can order an adult desert even though S and Marie have been having a continuing battle over Marie not wanting to order from the kids menu anymore. But S isn't here and I don't want to argue about an extra $5 so Marie gets an adult desert and proceeds to eat only the ice cream portion of it anyway. We get the bill and the waiter says we got a bigger discount then we should have under the membership -- it comes to almost $14 so after getting the 10% discount on a few souvenirs in the store, we came out ahead by getting the membership. The buses aren't running back to the GF now so we can either go to the T TC or MGM and switch to either the monorail or a bus. I decide to go to MGM and do the bus because the ramp is quite steep at TTC. MM doubts that I really know what I am doing but it works out fine.
Tomorrow: MGM
Staying at the Grand Floridian for 6 nights; Rennaissance Orlando for 2 nights
Day 3 -- Pirate Cruise and Animal Kingdom
Today, the girls are scheduled to go on the Pirate Cruise. Since Christa was a little freaked out about the pirate on the Peter Pan ride, we were a little concerned so we called it the Treasure Hunt cruise. Christa was fine except that she didn't want to wear the bandana, but Noelle (the baby by 7 minutes) didn't want to leave mommy. It came time to split up in pairs. Because Noelle was nervous, we paired her with Marie. There were a few uncomfortable minutes when we were looking for a buddy for Christa, but we found another girl a little older than her and they were fine. By this time, Noelle looked fine and off they went. The boat itself looked very safe. The sides are not open but are enclosed with plastic so the kids can't fall overboard.
While they were gone, me and MM went to the GF Cafe. We were supposed to have bfast at RainForest Cafe but decided MM could use the rest more. The GF Cafe bfast was very good and we then had a few minutes to go back to the room before going back to get the kids. M and S went to the Polynesian for bfast -- M had the banana french toast, which is a personal favorite of mine even if it does taste like desert. (We stayed at the Poly in 1997. I would have liked it more but for the fact that we paid rack rate and that seemed a bit much for me for motor lodge-type rooms -- but I digress.) S regretted not scheduled the character bfast here but we scheduled so many already and we already did it so we just couldn't fit it in this time.
When the girls came back, they were very sweaty and smily. All had a wonderful time and were so excited by the bag of trinkets they got at the end. The rest of the trip, we heard a lot (too many) of "ahoy maties". We concluded that this was money well spent. The kids were tired and we would have liked to get a nap for them, but we continued on because today was Animal Kingdom day. This brings me to a glitch in our planning. Monday is early entry day at AK. Since we would not be there at opening, we really should have picked another park for the afternoon. But, we had less "goals" for AK then other parks so we stuck with the plan and went to AK anyway.
We arrived at about 12:30 and headed straight for Lion King. There was a show starting in about 10 minutes so we rushed to get there. We didn't see this either of our two prior trips and so it was a must do today. Because MM was in the wheelchair, we were seated first and given great seats. No one cared that we had 7 people and the max is supposed to be 6. This show was awesome and because we were up front the girls got a lot of attention. They were picked to participate in the show, but Noelle (the baby) was too scared. Marie and Christa hammed it up and it was great! Great photo opp.
Next, we went to Kali River Rapids. (We decided to skip the Safari because of time constraints and we didn't really enjoy Pocohantas last time so we skipped that too.) We stopped for a wonderful root bear float on the way out of Camp Minnie and Mickey. The sign said Kali wait was 60 minutes and FPs were all gone. We decided to wait because M, S and the girls didn't do this last time because the twins were too little. It was sooooo hot and it was fairly difficult to push the chair because the road was uneven and uphill. It was much longer than 60 minutes -- closer to 2 hours. Noelle looked really tired. Finally, we get to the front and have to turn off for WC access. We tell the CMs that we will need two lap bars for the twins. They say fine but do nothing. When the next boat comes in, it has no lap bars. Instead of letting in go down empty and getting a boat with lap bars, they load the next handicapped party into it. We assume that we are going to get into the next boat but now they tell us that they can't have two handicap boats out at the same time so they have to wait for the last party to get back and then send that boat along and get another with lap bars. Why didn't they do that in the first place instead of letting the other party jump ahead of us? The CMs are very rude -- their attitude is basically, who cares, it will only be another 6 minutes until that boat is back. Well, 6 minutes is a lot when it is 100 degrees and you've been waiting two hours already and the kids are crying and me and MM put on our stupid plastic ponchos already. Why can't they just admit that they screwed up and apologize instead of being rude. A very non-Disney experience. Anyway, the ride is great but not worth the hassle. Me and MM get soaked but we had the ponchos on so we are fine. Marie is disappointed she didn't get wetter.
By the time the kids change and we get to the parade route, it is over. We have heard such good things about the parade but still haven't seen it. So, we decide to go to Dinoland. The kids go on the kiddie, dumbo-type ride and then me, M, S and Marie go on Dinosaur, which was a must do for me. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. By now, everyone is cranky and hungry and the park is closing soon. MM and S want to go to the Rain Forest for dinner. M thinks the line will be too long and wants to go back to the hotel. We go to the RF, after a few words between M and S, and see the wait will be 45-60 minutes. But, if we pay $15 and join a lcub we can get in in 5 -- done! We are seated and Noelle falls asleep on M. As usual, it takes forever for the food to come but when it does we enjoy it. Me, MM and Marie decides to stay and have desert, while M, S and the twins go back. MM tells Marie she can order an adult desert even though S and Marie have been having a continuing battle over Marie not wanting to order from the kids menu anymore. But S isn't here and I don't want to argue about an extra $5 so Marie gets an adult desert and proceeds to eat only the ice cream portion of it anyway. We get the bill and the waiter says we got a bigger discount then we should have under the membership -- it comes to almost $14 so after getting the 10% discount on a few souvenirs in the store, we came out ahead by getting the membership. The buses aren't running back to the GF now so we can either go to the T TC or MGM and switch to either the monorail or a bus. I decide to go to MGM and do the bus because the ramp is quite steep at TTC. MM doubts that I really know what I am doing but it works out fine.
Tomorrow: MGM
