We survived a snake, killer bees, crazy pigeons and the in-laws!

[Mickey1Fan]

What a great way to spend my break. Can't wait for the next installment of this magical adventure (with some misadventure thrown in for good measure).

 

[momofdbsdc]

I am really enjoying your trip report!! I can't wait to hear the rest!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Part 5 - The MK Adventure continues

First I have to tell you that although we have a waterview YC room and in-laws have a gv YC room they are located really close to each other. This is a delight for the kids to run back and forth between rooms. Not so much a delight for DH, me and in-laws since we are totally paranoid and have to watch them run the three doors away since someone may snatch them in the minute it takes them to run back and forth.

Today is a regular entry MK day. This is good news for DMIL who has commented that she feels like she's running a marathon since we have her up and out so early. Our family has been to Disney enough times to know the value of being there at opening so there is no complaining there. We are already, kids and DFIL have had a light breakfast from our room (thank you garden grocer) and ready to go. DD (7) has left our room the run down to see her grandmother. DFIL, DH, me dd (8) and ds(5) get everything together - water/spray fan -check, ponchos - check, camera - check, water bottles in cooler - check- stroller - check. Let's go! Unfortunately DMIL is not ready. DH tells DFIL that we need to hurry we're running late. DFIL bangs on the door - basically what the h*** are you doing - I think we struck a chord with always prompt DFIL/ late running DMIL. DD (7) opens the door and with an air of haugtiness tells us the DMIL is putting on her make up and anyone banging on the door is an animal. I wonder where she heard that. Finally DMIL makes it out the door and we are headed (once again) to the bus for YC. This bus only stops at BC so we make good time and get to MK just as opening number starts. I can see the in-laws are starting to get the hang of Disney. DMIL now knows to have her bag ready to bag check and tickets out. They both are getting the concept of the finger ID check.

Be right back.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Sorry but real life interrupted - I had to stop the kids from killing each other. When does school start?

Part 5 - continued.

Okay so we make our way into MK and it was much more crowded today. We do Dumbo, Buzz Light Year, and Winnie the Pooh. Dd wants to get to Toontown in hopes that she can ride with Goofy. Remember ds and dd have already had a chance to ride with Goofy. We wait in the hot sun on the one in a million chance that dd will be picked. THe rope drops dd makes it to the front and - no one is riding with Goofy that day. DD is not happy. Now dd (8) has a problem - when something disappointing happens she will always blame me. It is apparently my fault that ds and other dd got picked and she didn't. Oh well - do you want to ride or not? We do Goofy's rollercoaster and make our way through Mickey and Minnie's houses and stop and visit Mickey and the princesses. DD is still sulky in Minnie's house so there are no "cute" pictures of her in our year Minnie's house photos. You know the kitchen, Minnie's living room etc.

We decide to do BTMRR and SM. DH has gotten fast passes for SM when we were in line for Toontown and they are good for now. When we get to Frontierland we get FPs for BTMRR. DD (7) and DMIL sit out while we ride SM. We take a break (for ice cream and drinks of course and potty) and then our BTMRR FP's are ready. We make this our last ride of the day as it is getting pretty crowded. We decide to head back to YC and get lunch there. When we got off the bus at YC we stopped and checked if we could get a table at YC Galley and we were in luck. Hardly anyone was there. Kids liked it because they had the kids table where they could color and play. Forgot to mention that we were going to try to do Belle's Fairytale Garden before we left MK but dd (7) was getting smart mouthed so no Belle. The air conditioning and color calmed everyone down. DH had a beer and so he was relaxed. Food was good and it was nice and peaceful. Of course from there we went back to change and head for Stormalong Bay and my pina colada! Kids just loved Stormalong Bay and even DH and I went down the slide. I can't imagine being at the parks from morning to night without a break. I don't think I could do it. THe swimming breaks are what keeps us from killing our children and keeps them from killing each other.

To be continued.

 

[kathymc]

ok so we've gotten the bees, snakes and inlaws - tell us more about the pigeon!

enjoying your reports - nothing like storm-a-long to refresh the spirits (the pina colada sure helps too!)

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Be patient - the pigeons will be coming soon!

Okay after swimming and resting (especially after two pina coladas) we were ready to hit Epcot again. We had ADRs for Alfredos. First time we tried it and we were not impressed. Now the waiters were not rude (which I had read), the tables were close but we were still okay with it. We were just disappointed in the food. Now where I am in NJ there is a dining section with nothing but great Italian food so maybe I'm spoiled. I just didn't think the food at Alfredos was as good as even an Olive Garden. THe best meal was ds's who had spaghetti and meatballs (not offered on the adult menu). It wasn't terrible just nothing special.

After dinner we walked around Epcot (still in pursuit of the elusive string light up thing - no luck) and shopped. Kids wanted to go back - yet again - to SAB so we did. Now here is a funny thing. DH and I are just setting there watching the kids go down the slide when dd (7) comes up and tells me she met a family from Hamilton Square - NJ - our hometown. SHe takes me to meet the family and they live very close to us. We tell them this is our first time at YC and they tell us they always go there. They are surprised when we tell them how long we're there for, and we talk about different things at the resort (tips from them) and chit chat. Its so funny when we find out they were on the same flight out of PHilly as my in-laws. Small world! Anyway when SAB closes we gather the kids together and head back to the room to crash (except "Tink").

More to come.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Part 6 - our MGM Day

Today is our MGM day so horray no busses! We take the boat from YC to MGM with a quick stop at Swan/Dolphin. We get there before opening. I don't know who designed the turnstyle area for MGM but it always seems so tight and jammed together.

We make our way to Great Movie Ride. Last year I wanted to ride this first (one of my favorites) and DH put it off and then by the time we got back the lines were too long. So now its payback time and DH knows the GMR will be the first ride of the day. Everyone loves it except dd (7). She is a sweet princessey girly, girl but also a bit of a scaredy cat. The gangster/gun shot scenes drive her to tears and she spent about half the ride with her head in my lap. We move on in quick secession to Little Mermaid and Playhouse Disney. We have somewhat of a wait for Playhouse Disney after Little Mermaid so kids do some shopping. DD (7) has sufficiently recovered from the GMR to take her Disney dollars and buy the Ariel Mermaid costume she's had her eye on for two years, other kids buy some junk and we have it sent back to the room so I don't have to lug and/or forget anything else. DH takes the opportunity to volunteer to get fps for Tower of Terror. Two things you shoud know - DH hates Playhouse Disney and will always somehow have to get a fastpass whenever we go there, and two ds was always too short for TOT so I volunteered to stay with him. Unfortunately for me Ds is now 40" tall and can't wait to get to TOT. Apparently last year (I really don't remember this) I promised to ride TOT with him when he was tall enough. Anyway DFIL and DH leave to get the fps and DMIL and I take the kids into Playhouse Disney. When we come out the kids are saying they are hungry and our ADR is still 40 minutes away. DH suggests going over to Sci-Fi to see if they can take us early, if not, we'll go see the Muppets. Good luck! Sci-FI is just opening and they can seat us in one car if I sit with two of the kids. We love Sci-Fi and in-laws really like it too. Kids get more glow in the dark ice cub drinks (we could open up our own store after all these trips) so everyone is happy. After leaving Sci-Fi we make our way over to Beauty and the Beast. I think this is one of the best shows in Disney and everyone enjoys the show. DHs only disappointment is that this is one of the days Four for a dollar is off. He thought they were a riot last year. After B&B our fps for TOT are ready and I go off to face my doom. That ride is crazy! Ds loved it and DFIL even went on. I couldn't wait for it to end but ds was deliriously happy. DD - scaredy cat and DMIL waited this one out. After that we headed back to YC (boat again) and once again made our way to SAB for swimming, rest, relaxation and yes you guessed it - pina coladas for me and beer for DH!

To be continued!

 

[eeyore45]

Perfect trip report!

Really cant imagine being stung by bees, and having to dodge snakes!! aack!!

Love all the tips you've included, esp the bus service, we're staying at Boardwalk (first time) so I appreciate the information!!

 

[uicbear]

DD (7) opens the door and with an air of haugtiness tells us the DMIL is putting on her make up and anyone banging on the door is an animal.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Back again!

Okay after kids have enough swimming (well at least they came out semi-willingly) and DH and I have had enough drinks to fuel us for the rest of the night (only kidding) we head back to the room to shower and change for dinner. We have ADRs for 50's PTC and can't wait for the in-laws to see this. We were there for lunch last summer and had a ball - we had a great waiter who played his role, but not in-your-face over the top. Plus I loved the fried chicken. We get to PTC right on time (no small feat - 7 people to get ready and the timing of the boat to MGM) and have just a few minutes wait. The in-laws loved the decor and all the artifacts. After that everything seemed to go downhill. We had probably the worse waiter at PTC. He was not into character at all except for basically throwing the silverware on the table and telling us to set it. No jokes, no kidding around, no nothing. I ordered a root beer float to go with dinner and he brought me a small glass of ice cream and a glass of root beer on the side - what was up with that? We ordered, he brough our food, and that was the last we saw of him until we asked for the check. Food was good, but what a disappointment. We really go for the atmosphere and saw lots of other tables getting in on the fun but it was like we were in Siberia.

After PTC we went to do Star Tours. I told DMIL it wasn't too bad (now this is the same woman who almost had a heart attack on Goofy's roller coaster), but since ST doesn't go up in the air I thought I was being truthful. THis was the one of the few times on our trip that I thought DMIL was going to kill me. She was not a happy camper getting off the ride and I felt like I was getting glared at. We then went over to Muppets and luckily after the Muppet show her mood improved immensely. Everyone was ready to call it a night, we would be doing Fantasmic later in the week, so we headed back to the boats and YC. Yes, of course, my kids had to go to SAB again that night. Now it might surprise you to find out that we have an inground pool at home. These kids can swim all summer long but when we get to Disney they act like kids who have never even seen an inground pool before, go figure. So our clan was once again out by SAB at our permanent seat - the end of the water slide.

Next up - EPCOT, DS takes a fall, and lightening!

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Your're pitching the good stuff...Keep it up!

 

[Floridafriend]

Really enjoying these reports

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Part 6 - the saga continues

Today was our EPCOT day and we had an 8:30 ADR for PSB. Since we could walk to Epcot we left early enough to be the first ones at the International Gateway Entrance. I always heard that the first little girls at PSB got to open the doors. In fact, last year we saw a little girl given a crown and a wand to open the doors. I rushed everyone through WS and over to Norway. We were the first people there. Unfortunately they must have stopped doing the door opening thing because all we got was a comment that we were the first ones there. Oh well I hadn't told the girls so they didn't feel like they were missing anything. Ds was not overjoyed to be dining with the princesses. He used to love going but since he started kindergarten (and I guess is now too "cool") he won't even be photographed with them. We are let in and led to be photographed with Belle in her gold dress. SInce all of our other princess meals Belle was in her everyday blue dress this was a treat. We had a nice breakfast (cinnamon rolls good - everything else ok) saw all the princesses, bought the Belle picture and were done. DDs were dressed in princess dresses so as soon as we got out we got them off, put them in plastic bags and didn't have to hear that the girls were "itching" anymore. DH headed over to get fastpasses for Soaring and the rest of us went to get in line for Crush. Even though it was early there was a long line for Crush. Me, DMIL and DFIL got in line and the kids were able to go an color at one of the Kidcot stations near Crush. DH came back and got in line and soon we started moving. Kids were not happy to leave the Kidcot station so we told them they could finish coloring after Crush. Crush was great as usual and dd got picked to ask a question. At least one dd has gotten picked at Crush everytime we go - sometimes both. However ds has never been picked and so was disappointed again. Kids got to go back to Kidcot station and color. We went over to Journey into Imagination to do Figment since there was no line and our FPs for SOaring weren't ready yet. We still like it, although I'm the only one who remembers the original FIgmet and liked that one much better. After exiting FIgment kids went to play in the IMagination Center. DMIL and I had one dd, DH had another and DFIL had ds. We were only there a few minutes when DFIL brough ds over, crying. Apparently he had been fooling around on the railing and accidentally did a flip and landed on his head. After a few seconds he seemed okay to me. However and CM who had seen ds came rushing over and insisted that we let the EMTs examine him. I really thought it was unnecessary but since it was a bump on the head I didn't take any chances. Pretty soon a supervisor came over and was talking to us too, while waiting for the EMTS. THe EMTs came, examined him, said he seemed fine but went over the list of what to watch out for. SInce Ds is my 7th child I knew the drill. Now here is the only part I didn't like they had me sign a paper that I refused medical treatment. Now EMTs said he didn't need any medical treatment so I did question why I had to sign a paper saying I refused treatment and got some runaround answer. Now I know there are lots of people who want something for nothing and that's probably why we had to do it but it left a bitter taste in my mouth because I had told them that ds was fooling around and I thought he was fine. I signed the paper, they gave ds a little ice pack and we were on our way. We were able to use our fps for Soaring shortly after that. Soaring is always amazing to me. DMIL and dd (scaredy cat) waited out Soaring and went to see Circle of Life instead. We had all been on Soaring last summer and in January so we knew what to expect but DFIL was floored. If you ask him about Disney now the 1st thing he will tell you is how great Soaring was. We had hit the jackpot with our FPs for Soaring and got a free FP for Living with the Land too so that's where we went next. Now since we had a big breakfast at PSB you would think that no one would be hungry. Well then you don't know my kids. They will pick through every expensive breakfast, hardly eat anything, but when they see a food court they are starving. I give up arguing about this and we took them over to Seasons for a snack.

Next up - the Lightening and scaredy cat DMIL!

 

[KathyRN137]

So glad your DS is okay.
Don't worry about the refusal to go to the hospital thing. They just need to document that they did the right thing by offering it.
Soarin' was the big hit of our last trip, too!

 

[Stitch&figment 4 eve]

Great TR keep it coming!Good to hear your son is okay!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Continued

Since the snacks seemed to rejuvenate the kids (and ds was fine) we went over to "Cool Club" - how I miss the igloo! Made in-laws try the Beverly and their expression was priceless. Kids and I had lots of the watermelon coke, that's our favorite. When we got out of there it was thundering. We waited for a little while in the covered area by inventions. DMIL would have like to have stayed there all day but we were having none of that. Apparently DMIL is petrified of lightening. Now I have a healthy respect for lightening (staying away from water, trees etc.) I'm not going to stay in one spot all day because there MIGHT be lightening. DH and I decide to head over to one of our favorites AMerican Adventure. I know the in-laws will love the show if they ever make it over there. We tell them this and start walking with the strollers headed toward the American pavillion. DMIL was throwing daggers at us with her eyes but we just pretened not to notice and walked quickly enough so they could follow us but not close enough that we could hear what they were saying. DH and I knew DMIL was not happy but oh well. We finally made it there (there were a few lightening bolts, so DMIL was not crazy) and she was still glaring. Luckily the show was just getting ready to start. Happily they enjoyed the show immensely and luckily when we got out the lightening seemed to have passes and her good nature mostly returned. We headed back to YC and let the kids, once again, return to their happiest place on earth - SAB.

To be continued.

 

[disneynewbee]

Glad your son was ok. I would have felt weird about signing the paper too you never refused any treatment so why should you have to sign something saying you did. O well I guess they have to cover there butts with the sue crazy world today. Great report so far.

 

[krismom]

Wow! A week at Yacht Club and a week at the Poly- that's me dream come true trip! two weeks with the in-laws though- no matter where... would be VERY tough. You are a brave, strong woman. My twins had to have the String Things as well- we looked all over for them after we saw a kid with one at the Wilderness Lodge (sound familiar?) right now, they are at the bottom of the toy box.
What are you, busy or something? You only have7 kids- keep writing!

 

[Dixielady908]

Great report. Looking forward to reading the rest...


Denise

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Wow! A week at Yacht Club and a week at the Poly- that's me dream come true trip! two weeks with the in-laws though- no matter where... would be VERY tough. You are a brave, strong woman. My twins had to have the String Things as well- we looked all over for them after we saw a kid with one at the Wilderness Lodge (sound familiar?) right now, they are at the bottom of the toy box.
What are you, busy or something? You only have7 kids- keep writing!

Yes, I've been a little busy. We took Ds to set up his new apartment (he started law school the other day), getting other ds ready to go back to college, and today we're taking the younger kids to the Wiggles concert. I'll definitely write some more tomorrow.

Just to clarify - my in-laws only stayed with us the first week at the YC. THe second part of our vacation was just our family time.

P.S. - We now have three "string things" and they are ALL sitting on the bottom of the toy chests!

To be continued . . .