Who we are:
DH- 25 (had his b-day while on our trip), hard-working hubby and daddy and all around great guy. Hasn't been to Disney in 10 years.
DS- 2, a little ball of energy, loves Mickey Mouse (was Mickey for Halloween). This is his first trip.
DMil- 48, wonderful grandma coming along to help out with DS. Last trip was in '99.
Me- 24, stay at home mommy and main trip planner (I bought so many guidebooks that DH thought I was nuts
). Never been to Disney.
Wednesday, May 1st
MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 1
I woke up early this morning. Yippee!! I was going to Magic Kingdom. I was up and dressed before anybody else. I felt like a little kid. When the rest of the family was up and ready, we went to breakfast in the lobby. We were on the road by 8:40. We took the ferry over and that was gorgeous. The view of the castle, the morning sun glinting off the water, it was perfect. We were through security, ticket gates and on Snow White's Adventures by 9:30. I was a bit apprehensive about starting DS off on Snow White since I knew it was a little scary but the wait was 0 minutes - how can you beat that? He ended up doing fine although to this day I am still hearing about the witche's hand -- "Mommy, where's the witches hand? Mommy, you have a witch hand." etc. Sometimes little ones can get obsessed with the strangest stuff. I am also still hearing about the mice from Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Back to Magic Kingdom. We had originally wanted to Fast Pass Pooh but the line was only a 10 minute wait so we jumped in. DS liked this one and I did too. I tried to look for the picture of toad turning over his deed in Owl's house but we went through too fast. I also didn't smell the honey - again too fast. I guess I will just have to go on again someday
. Dumbo was only a 15 minute wait so DS and DMil went on while DH went to grab FP for Peter Pan. Then DH, DS, and I did the teacups with a 10 minute wait. Wow! We hadn't even been here an hour and I felt like we had done so much. We headed over to It's a Small World (5 minute wait) and we all liked that one. It was time for our FP for Peter Pan we headed over there and skipped a 40 minute wait. Yea for fast pass! Haunted Mansion was next and it was only a 15 minute wait. I liked this and so did DS. He wasn't afraid at all. By now we were starting to get hungry. I had read about Pecos Bill's and I really wanted to try that, but someone suggested Wild Horseshoe Saloon so we went there. I have to say this place was a big thumbs down. Our lunch was 32.00 for mediocre at best turkey sandwiches (DS had pbj). There was just meat and bread to the sandwiches - no lettuce and tomato. Besides that, there weren't even any tables to sit at. At least half of them were taken by people not even eating which I thought was rather rude. So we went outside to sit on the steps with all the birds 
. I made up my mind to speak up next time when it was time to eat about all of the great places I had read about on the DIS and in guidebooks! After lunch, DH and I went to get FP for Big Thunder Mountain. Now like I have said before, I am a big chicken who does not like heights at all. The most scary ride in the world to me is a ferris wheel because it goes so high. You can spin me and bounce me all day long on a ride and I love it but put me up high and I absolutely hate it. That being said, I had promised DH that I would try Big Thunder with him. It didn't look that bad from what I had seen because you don't see straight down to the ground from the track. On the way back to where DS and DMil were, we stoped for ice cream. I got my Mickey bar. I had been waiting 24 years to try this and it was gooood . DH tried the 100 years of Magic bar and he liked his as well. It was time for the Country bear Jamboree to start, so we all went in to see that. It was then time to use our FP for Big Thunder Mtn. so DH and I left DS and DMil at the exit. The ride did scare me a little but it was fun. When we came out, DS was fast asleep. I agreed to try Splash Mtn. since I wasn't too traumatized by Big Thunder so we headed down to get a FP for Splash Mtn. While we were waiting for our time to ride we went back to shop at the Christmas store. I really wanted to get a Christmas ornament for our tree. We picked one out and brought it back to DMil to hold while we did Splash Mtn. I was very nervous to go on, I must admit. I usually skip flumes but I had heard this one had really neat theming so I braved it. We were in the very back of a log and right at the beginning, we got completely soaked by another log going down the big hill. We screamed and laughed and the people in front of us found it quite amusing too . The ride ended up being fun and I would go on it again when we go back. We laughed for the rest of the day over getting so wet at the beginning. By now, it was just about time for the parade so we went over and found perfect seats right at the beginning of the route. I was happy to be so close. We talked to a nice man from S. Carolina who was leaving right after the parade with his family to catch a plane home. I have to say that everyone we met on this entire trip, from cms to other visitors were super-duper friendly. We talked to many people throughout the trip and I just got the warmest feeling from it. IMO, the people make 90% of the Disney magic, not the attractions. The parade was great and DS was just mesmerized by it. Donald Duck shook his hand and DS's smile was from ear to ear. He was so excited!! After the parade, we snuck over to adventureland while the masses were still watching. We walked on to Pirates of the Carribean. We got the front of the boat and this was the best ride of the day, IMO. I don't know exactly what it was that I loved about it but I did love it -- the detail, the little water drop, the song. I could go on and on...what fun it was !! DS got a pirate ship playset in the gift shop. DH went to check out the line for Jungle Cruise while DS, DMil and I looked around adventureland. I just loved the theming here so much. I wish I could live in one of those little "apartments" above the shops . DH came back with a bad report on the Jungle Cruise - a 45 minute wait and no fast passes left for the day. Oh well, we would be back tomorrow. We were just in time for the Tiki Birds show so we walked right in. DS just loved this. He cried when it was over because he wanted to stay in there. DH took him on Aladdin (10 minute wait) and after we let him play in the water area nearby. He just loved this. We were getting tired so we decided to start heading out for the day. We would be back the next day to do Mickey's Toon Town, Tomorrowland, and the Jungle Cruise. On our way out, we stopped to do some shopping on Main Street. I had been looking everywhere for a necklace that had my name on it. I couldn't find one anywhere so DH got me one that said mom as my mother's day present. He also got DMil a Dumbo figurine as a thank-you gift for coming with us. This we kept as a surprise until the day we left. DS really wanted a Mickey balloon so we got him one. We took the monorail back to the TTC. By the way, DS's favorite ride out of anything was the parking lot tram. He was always so excited to go on this "ride". He kept calling it the "bus". We dropped DS and DMil off at the hotel for a swim and then went out to dinner just the two of us. We went to Jungle Jim's in Crossroads. It was pretty good. We each had a drink. DH had a Jungle Jim which had all kinds of alcohol in it. Not my style but he liked it. I had an Irish Monkey which was basically a vanilla milkshake with some minty alcohol. It was wonderful. We each had a burger and liked them. The prices were very reasonable. We decided to stop over at Goodings to get a couple of desserts to share around with DS and DMil. We got home pretty early. DH and I headed off to the laundry room. We got all of our laundry done while talking to a nice woman from North Carolina who had won her trip from the website orlandoinfo.com. We were in bed by 11:30.
DH- 25 (had his b-day while on our trip), hard-working hubby and daddy and all around great guy. Hasn't been to Disney in 10 years.
DS- 2, a little ball of energy, loves Mickey Mouse (was Mickey for Halloween). This is his first trip.
DMil- 48, wonderful grandma coming along to help out with DS. Last trip was in '99.
Me- 24, stay at home mommy and main trip planner (I bought so many guidebooks that DH thought I was nuts
). Never been to Disney.Wednesday, May 1st
MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 1
I woke up early this morning. Yippee!! I was going to Magic Kingdom. I was up and dressed before anybody else. I felt like a little kid. When the rest of the family was up and ready, we went to breakfast in the lobby. We were on the road by 8:40. We took the ferry over and that was gorgeous. The view of the castle, the morning sun glinting off the water, it was perfect. We were through security, ticket gates and on Snow White's Adventures by 9:30. I was a bit apprehensive about starting DS off on Snow White since I knew it was a little scary but the wait was 0 minutes - how can you beat that? He ended up doing fine although to this day I am still hearing about the witche's hand -- "Mommy, where's the witches hand? Mommy, you have a witch hand." etc. Sometimes little ones can get obsessed with the strangest stuff. I am also still hearing about the mice from Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Back to Magic Kingdom. We had originally wanted to Fast Pass Pooh but the line was only a 10 minute wait so we jumped in. DS liked this one and I did too. I tried to look for the picture of toad turning over his deed in Owl's house but we went through too fast. I also didn't smell the honey - again too fast. I guess I will just have to go on again someday
. Dumbo was only a 15 minute wait so DS and DMil went on while DH went to grab FP for Peter Pan. Then DH, DS, and I did the teacups with a 10 minute wait. Wow! We hadn't even been here an hour and I felt like we had done so much. We headed over to It's a Small World (5 minute wait) and we all liked that one. It was time for our FP for Peter Pan we headed over there and skipped a 40 minute wait. Yea for fast pass! Haunted Mansion was next and it was only a 15 minute wait. I liked this and so did DS. He wasn't afraid at all. By now we were starting to get hungry. I had read about Pecos Bill's and I really wanted to try that, but someone suggested Wild Horseshoe Saloon so we went there. I have to say this place was a big thumbs down. Our lunch was 32.00 for mediocre at best turkey sandwiches (DS had pbj). There was just meat and bread to the sandwiches - no lettuce and tomato. Besides that, there weren't even any tables to sit at. At least half of them were taken by people not even eating which I thought was rather rude. So we went outside to sit on the steps with all the birds . I made up my mind to speak up next time when it was time to eat about all of the great places I had read about on the DIS and in guidebooks! After lunch, DH and I went to get FP for Big Thunder Mountain. Now like I have said before, I am a big chicken who does not like heights at all. The most scary ride in the world to me is a ferris wheel because it goes so high. You can spin me and bounce me all day long on a ride and I love it but put me up high and I absolutely hate it. That being said, I had promised DH that I would try Big Thunder with him. It didn't look that bad from what I had seen because you don't see straight down to the ground from the track. On the way back to where DS and DMil were, we stoped for ice cream. I got my Mickey bar. I had been waiting 24 years to try this and it was gooood . DH tried the 100 years of Magic bar and he liked his as well. It was time for the Country bear Jamboree to start, so we all went in to see that. It was then time to use our FP for Big Thunder Mtn. so DH and I left DS and DMil at the exit. The ride did scare me a little but it was fun. When we came out, DS was fast asleep. I agreed to try Splash Mtn. since I wasn't too traumatized by Big Thunder so we headed down to get a FP for Splash Mtn. While we were waiting for our time to ride we went back to shop at the Christmas store. I really wanted to get a Christmas ornament for our tree. We picked one out and brought it back to DMil to hold while we did Splash Mtn. I was very nervous to go on, I must admit. I usually skip flumes but I had heard this one had really neat theming so I braved it. We were in the very back of a log and right at the beginning, we got completely soaked by another log going down the big hill. We screamed and laughed and the people in front of us found it quite amusing too . The ride ended up being fun and I would go on it again when we go back. We laughed for the rest of the day over getting so wet at the beginning. By now, it was just about time for the parade so we went over and found perfect seats right at the beginning of the route. I was happy to be so close. We talked to a nice man from S. Carolina who was leaving right after the parade with his family to catch a plane home. I have to say that everyone we met on this entire trip, from cms to other visitors were super-duper friendly. We talked to many people throughout the trip and I just got the warmest feeling from it. IMO, the people make 90% of the Disney magic, not the attractions. The parade was great and DS was just mesmerized by it. Donald Duck shook his hand and DS's smile was from ear to ear. He was so excited!! After the parade, we snuck over to adventureland while the masses were still watching. We walked on to Pirates of the Carribean. We got the front of the boat and this was the best ride of the day, IMO. I don't know exactly what it was that I loved about it but I did love it -- the detail, the little water drop, the song. I could go on and on...what fun it was !! DS got a pirate ship playset in the gift shop. DH went to check out the line for Jungle Cruise while DS, DMil and I looked around adventureland. I just loved the theming here so much. I wish I could live in one of those little "apartments" above the shops . DH came back with a bad report on the Jungle Cruise - a 45 minute wait and no fast passes left for the day. Oh well, we would be back tomorrow. We were just in time for the Tiki Birds show so we walked right in. DS just loved this. He cried when it was over because he wanted to stay in there. DH took him on Aladdin (10 minute wait) and after we let him play in the water area nearby. He just loved this. We were getting tired so we decided to start heading out for the day. We would be back the next day to do Mickey's Toon Town, Tomorrowland, and the Jungle Cruise. On our way out, we stopped to do some shopping on Main Street. I had been looking everywhere for a necklace that had my name on it. I couldn't find one anywhere so DH got me one that said mom as my mother's day present. He also got DMil a Dumbo figurine as a thank-you gift for coming with us. This we kept as a surprise until the day we left. DS really wanted a Mickey balloon so we got him one. We took the monorail back to the TTC. By the way, DS's favorite ride out of anything was the parking lot tram. He was always so excited to go on this "ride". He kept calling it the "bus". We dropped DS and DMil off at the hotel for a swim and then went out to dinner just the two of us. We went to Jungle Jim's in Crossroads. It was pretty good. We each had a drink. DH had a Jungle Jim which had all kinds of alcohol in it. Not my style but he liked it. I had an Irish Monkey which was basically a vanilla milkshake with some minty alcohol. It was wonderful. We each had a burger and liked them. The prices were very reasonable. We decided to stop over at Goodings to get a couple of desserts to share around with DS and DMil. We got home pretty early. DH and I headed off to the laundry room. We got all of our laundry done while talking to a nice woman from North Carolina who had won her trip from the website orlandoinfo.com. We were in bed by 11:30. 
Bumping up for family and friends 
