WHAT I'D DO DIFFERENTLY...POR Sept. 2006
- Thread starter lexmelinda
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jordansmomma
<font color=darkorchid><marquee>DebbieLouWho Wendy
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What was Emily's meltdown??? 
My 6 yo had a mini melt down so to speak, he freaked out just before we were loading onto the elevator and then to get off we had to go down an elevator oh so much fun!! From the pre show he thought that we were going to disapear as they had done in the elevator
i still laugh about that!! He was very nervous that his brother was not getting off the ride & when he did he hugged Jordan for like ever!!
I tried to keep it a secret from him also but he over heard me speaking to a friend and then for 2 months he was obsessed with measuring himself to see if had gotten any taller!!
My 6 yo had a mini melt down so to speak, he freaked out just before we were loading onto the elevator and then to get off we had to go down an elevator oh so much fun!! From the pre show he thought that we were going to disapear as they had done in the elevator
i still laugh about that!! He was very nervous that his brother was not getting off the ride & when he did he hugged Jordan for like ever!! I tried to keep it a secret from him also but he over heard me speaking to a friend and then for 2 months he was obsessed with measuring himself to see if had gotten any taller!!
lexmelinda
<font color=blue>Has a Seussical googling DD<br><f
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pigletforever, disneytraveler, Donald is #1, BlueBayou...thanks for reading and posting! I am enjoying writing this report more than I imagined and hope everyone doesn't find the details excruciating. 
ZZUB & PrincessV....re: crappy coffee...Maybe I should have given it a try? I did enjoy the turbo flush toilets so who knows?
jordansmomma....meltdown report on the way......
ZZUB & PrincessV....re: crappy coffee...Maybe I should have given it a try? I did enjoy the turbo flush toilets so who knows?
jordansmomma....meltdown report on the way......
lexmelinda
<font color=blue>Has a Seussical googling DD<br><f
- Joined
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- 3,361
DOES THAT BUG HAVE TWO HEADS?
We’re at Tower of Terror and Emily won’t even go near the entrance to the building. And she’s certainly not going inside. Final answer. Now Emily is a sweet, smart, beautiful girl who turned 13 the week before our trip. She is a mixture of a teenager who wants to be a grown up but who also secretly wishes to be the little autograph-seeking princess-lover she was on our last trip. Stir that up with a few adolescent emotions and that’s roughly our girl. She’s afraid and I don’t blame her. The tower is imposing many ways. I hand her my cell phone and tell her to go shopping and we’ll call her when the ride is over.
We are now inside and it’s dark…and a little scary. We are ushered into the preshow room. The lights go out. I have my hands on DS’ shoulders but that whole Rod Serling show freaks him out. We proceed to the short queue where DS is reassured by the “big” boy behind us who used to be afraid of the Tower but has seen the light. We are up to the elevator and……….it’s a no-go. DH offers to take DS out to wait for Mimi and me. Love that man!
The Tower is a great ride and surprisingly not as much of a long, scary drop as I had anticipated! We meet up with DH and DS by the ride photos and then call Emily. She’s happy as a clam with half a drippy Mickey bar in her hand…meltdown forgotten.
We hurry on to Star Tours where, again, there’s no wait. I have a few issues with motion sickness and Emily is again a non-rider so we meander around Tatoine Traders where I see a shirt with one of my favorite Star Wars quotes: “Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.” Gotta love that Yoda. When the group exits Star Tours, we head to Muppets 3-D.
We check to find that the key is indeed under the mat and the preshow is only maybe half full. Emily is still concerned about the movie being scary. (Long story short, I ruined our trip last time by taking the girls to Honey, I Shrunk the Audience on the first day where they exited….screaming, “GET ME OUTTA HERE!” They did not trust us for the rest of the week when we said something was not scary. Well, that was six years ago and she apparently has not forgotten.) “It’s the Muppets, sweetie. It’ll be fine “ and of course it is.
Quick stop at the Streets of America to see Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater. DS thinks it’s cool but is not awed by seeing the character in “real life” as the girls would have been when they were little….
It’s almost 11:00 a.m. and our beautiful, cloudless morning is quickly becoming a very hot, buggy day. We head to the arena of FI-YAH for the Lights, Motor, Action stunt show. That is to say although the seating area is covered, it seems much hotter once we’re sitting still. The show is great… DH and DS seem particularly impressed with the stunt driving.
We proceed with no hesitation to the Flatbread Grill which seems to be the destination of half the people who just exited LMA. Emily chooses from the menu and takes DS to the “Honey, I Lost the Kids” playground nearby. We get the food, find the kid, and proceed to dine.
Well I had heard tell of the love bugs at Disney World and may I say, what an adorable name for such icky, abundant creature/s. Let me explain to those of you who have not experienced this mating ritual, that these bugs fly round in pairs…connected. If they were dogs, my grandmother would turn the hose on them. So, Emily looks down at one of the bug-pairs and says, “Does that bug have two heads?” I glance at Mimi. She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. I leave that one alone.
Mimi takes DS back to the playground while DH, Em, and I finish lunch. It is REALLY hot by now so DH is ready to head back to the hotel via Disney bus. Mimi and DS want to go too. That’s fine, but Emily and I want to see Beauty & the Beast, Indiana Jones and the parade before our 5:20 ADR at Mama Melrose’s.
We all walk down Animation Blvd. together. Look, DS! Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable! OK. He walks on. There are the Little Einsteins! Yep. He walks on. My boy is not interested in the characters! Well, a part of me is a little disappointed but a bigger part of me is overjoyed. Somewhere around 65% of our last Disney vacation was spent in line for character photos and autographs. Frankly, I’m a little relieved that we won’t be doing that this time.
We leave DH, DS, and Mimi at the Narnia attraction and head quickly to Beauty & the Beast. Emily and I squeeze into about the fourth row, center. I love this show! OK, so it’s the Reader’s Digest version of the story but it is indeed a sight to behold…the costumes, the singing, the dancing. the spectacle of it all. I am awed by the talent and enthusiasm of the young folks who perform this show with delight several times a day. Emily catches me with a tear in my eye. I’m always touched by the sound of beautiful songs sung by gifted singers. Truth be told, I wish I had been blessed with the gift of a beautiful voice. ZZUB wants to eat Tonga Toast in heaven but I just want to sing with a voice like Whitney Houston. Too much information……..maybe.
Anyway, Emily and I proceeded to see Narnia (good winter scene), Voyage of the Little Mermaid (ah, that rain felt good), The Great Movie Ride (also air conditioned), the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacluar (love those mister fans in the queue), and the parade …all worth seeing especially the parade if you love the characters and it’s not 135 degrees like it was on this particular day. I have to say one of my favorite things was the streetmosphere show. The characters were doing their “99 Joke” contest. It’s all improv and very funny! I will definitely make time next trip to catch more of the streemosphere performances….outstanding!
Now intermittently, Emily has been looking for a costume during the day. She is dying to go to the Not So Scary Halloween Party as Tinkerbell but at 13 my girl is now a plus size princess so we’re not having any luck. We inquire about an XL costume but the nice CM takes one look at Emily and says nothing will fit her. There are apparently no adult costumes for sale in all the World and she says for us to go to the Walmart on 536. She bought her daughter’s costume at that store in the Disney department (who knew) and her daughter is the exact same size/shape/age as Emily. Wow! Thank you!
We get the call from the rest of our gang and we meet at Mama Melrose around 5:00 p.m. They are rested and refreshed. We are hot, sticky, and covered with sweat and love bugs. The restaurant is well air conditioned and we are seated shortly. Our server, Holly, was excellent and knew the dining plan. By the time we finish our appetizers, we are getting full but I manage to eat the delicious salmon and a couple of bites of dessert.
Now who can pass the Pizza Planet without going inside to have a peek. DH and I distribute quarters and wait. They have a few whirls at Pirates of the Caribbean pinball, some flings at ski ball, a few tries at the claw (who had decided that everyone would stay and no one would go) and we are on our way to Fantasmic.
DH and Mimi go to burn up the Rockin’ Rollercoaster fastpasses we got earlier while DS, Emily, and I go to find some seats. We argue a bit about where to sit…the kids want to be in the front and I want to be in the back, on the end of the row for a clean get-away.
OK, have I mentioned that it is really hot…..and humid? In addition, the air is stagnate and we are all getting grumpy. I break out the glow necklaces and Emily wants cotton candy. I give her some money and she comes back with some cotton candy….and one of those chaser-light necklaces….for herself. Suddenly my Dollar Tree glow necklaces aren’t looking so hot to DS and an argument breaks out. Emily lets him wear the necklace, we do the wave and everybody’s happy again.
DH and Mimi join us and we try not to sit close enough so that our bodies touch in any way. Fantasmic is well….Fantasmic. Now, I love the Disney shows, really! But Fantasmic is at the bottom of my hit list. It is a good production but just not as good as the other nighttime/fireworks shows…to me…. if you can compare them at all. We are here because DS hasn’t seen the show and HE LOVES IT! Sorcerer Mickey gets up to do his thing and I nudge DH and the kids toward the exit. We lumber toward the exit, take the LOONNNNGGG walk back to the car, then the hotel, for a LOOONNNNNGGGG shower after a LOOONNNNGGG day at MGM. But I’m excited because I have a surprise for DS in the morning…….
DO…make more time to see the streemosphere performers. They were fantastic! I know there are several groups and they are on the times guide. Do try to sit near the fans at LMA. I will make this a priority next time. Do save your indoor, shady, and sitting attractions/shows for the afternoon if you’re there on a hot day at MGM. Do make a reservation at 50’s Prime Time if eating at MGM next trip I hear it is a unique experience.
DON’T… worry if your party wants to split up. Be flexible when it comes to your days in Disney World. Believe me…I learned this last trip. Even if you plan the day down to the minute, not everyone is up to the challenge of a full day in the parks. Split up if necessary so everyone enjoys their vacation whether it’s in the parks or at the pool.
We’re at Tower of Terror and Emily won’t even go near the entrance to the building. And she’s certainly not going inside. Final answer. Now Emily is a sweet, smart, beautiful girl who turned 13 the week before our trip. She is a mixture of a teenager who wants to be a grown up but who also secretly wishes to be the little autograph-seeking princess-lover she was on our last trip. Stir that up with a few adolescent emotions and that’s roughly our girl. She’s afraid and I don’t blame her. The tower is imposing many ways. I hand her my cell phone and tell her to go shopping and we’ll call her when the ride is over.
We are now inside and it’s dark…and a little scary. We are ushered into the preshow room. The lights go out. I have my hands on DS’ shoulders but that whole Rod Serling show freaks him out. We proceed to the short queue where DS is reassured by the “big” boy behind us who used to be afraid of the Tower but has seen the light. We are up to the elevator and……….it’s a no-go. DH offers to take DS out to wait for Mimi and me. Love that man!
The Tower is a great ride and surprisingly not as much of a long, scary drop as I had anticipated! We meet up with DH and DS by the ride photos and then call Emily. She’s happy as a clam with half a drippy Mickey bar in her hand…meltdown forgotten.
We hurry on to Star Tours where, again, there’s no wait. I have a few issues with motion sickness and Emily is again a non-rider so we meander around Tatoine Traders where I see a shirt with one of my favorite Star Wars quotes: “Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.” Gotta love that Yoda. When the group exits Star Tours, we head to Muppets 3-D.
We check to find that the key is indeed under the mat and the preshow is only maybe half full. Emily is still concerned about the movie being scary. (Long story short, I ruined our trip last time by taking the girls to Honey, I Shrunk the Audience on the first day where they exited….screaming, “GET ME OUTTA HERE!” They did not trust us for the rest of the week when we said something was not scary. Well, that was six years ago and she apparently has not forgotten.) “It’s the Muppets, sweetie. It’ll be fine “ and of course it is.
Quick stop at the Streets of America to see Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater. DS thinks it’s cool but is not awed by seeing the character in “real life” as the girls would have been when they were little….
It’s almost 11:00 a.m. and our beautiful, cloudless morning is quickly becoming a very hot, buggy day. We head to the arena of FI-YAH for the Lights, Motor, Action stunt show. That is to say although the seating area is covered, it seems much hotter once we’re sitting still. The show is great… DH and DS seem particularly impressed with the stunt driving.
We proceed with no hesitation to the Flatbread Grill which seems to be the destination of half the people who just exited LMA. Emily chooses from the menu and takes DS to the “Honey, I Lost the Kids” playground nearby. We get the food, find the kid, and proceed to dine.
Well I had heard tell of the love bugs at Disney World and may I say, what an adorable name for such icky, abundant creature/s. Let me explain to those of you who have not experienced this mating ritual, that these bugs fly round in pairs…connected. If they were dogs, my grandmother would turn the hose on them. So, Emily looks down at one of the bug-pairs and says, “Does that bug have two heads?” I glance at Mimi. She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. I leave that one alone.
Mimi takes DS back to the playground while DH, Em, and I finish lunch. It is REALLY hot by now so DH is ready to head back to the hotel via Disney bus. Mimi and DS want to go too. That’s fine, but Emily and I want to see Beauty & the Beast, Indiana Jones and the parade before our 5:20 ADR at Mama Melrose’s.
We all walk down Animation Blvd. together. Look, DS! Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable! OK. He walks on. There are the Little Einsteins! Yep. He walks on. My boy is not interested in the characters! Well, a part of me is a little disappointed but a bigger part of me is overjoyed. Somewhere around 65% of our last Disney vacation was spent in line for character photos and autographs. Frankly, I’m a little relieved that we won’t be doing that this time.
We leave DH, DS, and Mimi at the Narnia attraction and head quickly to Beauty & the Beast. Emily and I squeeze into about the fourth row, center. I love this show! OK, so it’s the Reader’s Digest version of the story but it is indeed a sight to behold…the costumes, the singing, the dancing. the spectacle of it all. I am awed by the talent and enthusiasm of the young folks who perform this show with delight several times a day. Emily catches me with a tear in my eye. I’m always touched by the sound of beautiful songs sung by gifted singers. Truth be told, I wish I had been blessed with the gift of a beautiful voice. ZZUB wants to eat Tonga Toast in heaven but I just want to sing with a voice like Whitney Houston. Too much information……..maybe.
Anyway, Emily and I proceeded to see Narnia (good winter scene), Voyage of the Little Mermaid (ah, that rain felt good), The Great Movie Ride (also air conditioned), the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacluar (love those mister fans in the queue), and the parade …all worth seeing especially the parade if you love the characters and it’s not 135 degrees like it was on this particular day. I have to say one of my favorite things was the streetmosphere show. The characters were doing their “99 Joke” contest. It’s all improv and very funny! I will definitely make time next trip to catch more of the streemosphere performances….outstanding!
Now intermittently, Emily has been looking for a costume during the day. She is dying to go to the Not So Scary Halloween Party as Tinkerbell but at 13 my girl is now a plus size princess so we’re not having any luck. We inquire about an XL costume but the nice CM takes one look at Emily and says nothing will fit her. There are apparently no adult costumes for sale in all the World and she says for us to go to the Walmart on 536. She bought her daughter’s costume at that store in the Disney department (who knew) and her daughter is the exact same size/shape/age as Emily. Wow! Thank you!
We get the call from the rest of our gang and we meet at Mama Melrose around 5:00 p.m. They are rested and refreshed. We are hot, sticky, and covered with sweat and love bugs. The restaurant is well air conditioned and we are seated shortly. Our server, Holly, was excellent and knew the dining plan. By the time we finish our appetizers, we are getting full but I manage to eat the delicious salmon and a couple of bites of dessert.
Now who can pass the Pizza Planet without going inside to have a peek. DH and I distribute quarters and wait. They have a few whirls at Pirates of the Caribbean pinball, some flings at ski ball, a few tries at the claw (who had decided that everyone would stay and no one would go) and we are on our way to Fantasmic.
DH and Mimi go to burn up the Rockin’ Rollercoaster fastpasses we got earlier while DS, Emily, and I go to find some seats. We argue a bit about where to sit…the kids want to be in the front and I want to be in the back, on the end of the row for a clean get-away.
OK, have I mentioned that it is really hot…..and humid? In addition, the air is stagnate and we are all getting grumpy. I break out the glow necklaces and Emily wants cotton candy. I give her some money and she comes back with some cotton candy….and one of those chaser-light necklaces….for herself. Suddenly my Dollar Tree glow necklaces aren’t looking so hot to DS and an argument breaks out. Emily lets him wear the necklace, we do the wave and everybody’s happy again.
DH and Mimi join us and we try not to sit close enough so that our bodies touch in any way. Fantasmic is well….Fantasmic. Now, I love the Disney shows, really! But Fantasmic is at the bottom of my hit list. It is a good production but just not as good as the other nighttime/fireworks shows…to me…. if you can compare them at all. We are here because DS hasn’t seen the show and HE LOVES IT! Sorcerer Mickey gets up to do his thing and I nudge DH and the kids toward the exit. We lumber toward the exit, take the LOONNNNGGG walk back to the car, then the hotel, for a LOOONNNNNGGGG shower after a LOOONNNNGGG day at MGM. But I’m excited because I have a surprise for DS in the morning…….
DO…make more time to see the streemosphere performers. They were fantastic! I know there are several groups and they are on the times guide. Do try to sit near the fans at LMA. I will make this a priority next time. Do save your indoor, shady, and sitting attractions/shows for the afternoon if you’re there on a hot day at MGM. Do make a reservation at 50’s Prime Time if eating at MGM next trip I hear it is a unique experience.
DON’T… worry if your party wants to split up. Be flexible when it comes to your days in Disney World. Believe me…I learned this last trip. Even if you plan the day down to the minute, not everyone is up to the challenge of a full day in the parks. Split up if necessary so everyone enjoys their vacation whether it’s in the parks or at the pool.
PrincessV
DIS Legend
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- 14,318
lexmelinda said:
You are not alone! I was so disappointed in Fantasmic after all the hype when it first debuted and I haven't been back to it since. It's not awful by any means, but I agree that there are other nighttime spectcles that are better.
Another great installment!
DisneyObsession
DIS Veteran
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- Sep 19, 2006
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lexmelinda[B said:
I will need to remember this on my next trip. I am vacationing with 3 friends I have never vacationed with, let alone gone away for a week with! I need to remember we can go do our own thing if necessary.
Thanks for this great report! Can't wait to hear more!
(Can you include a family pic? Your son is adorable and I'd love to see the rest of you as well!)
Happy Reporting!
Nurse_Mommy4
DIS Veteran
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subbing, I like your writing style.
mickaholic4077
I kicked cancer's butt!!
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What a great report!! It's funny,though,because I love Fantasmic!!
lexmelinda
<font color=blue>Has a Seussical googling DD<br><f
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PrincessV...we are in total agreement on Fantasmic. I could live a happy fulfilling life without ever seeing Fantasmic again. No offense to Fantasmic lovers...of which my son is now one.
LAS, Nurse_Mommy4....thanks for joining in on all the tedious details of our trip.
DisneyObsession...sorry but since Mimi was really the photographer on this trip, we got a lot of scenery but not many pictures of people...except DS...Mimi's favorite subject. I will post what I can find. I like to think we all still look the same as the pictures in post #1....
mickaholic4077..thanks for your kind remarks...sorry about my anti-Fantasmic sentiments.....
LAS, Nurse_Mommy4....thanks for joining in on all the tedious details of our trip.
DisneyObsession...sorry but since Mimi was really the photographer on this trip, we got a lot of scenery but not many pictures of people...except DS...Mimi's favorite subject. I will post what I can find. I like to think we all still look the same as the pictures in post #1....
mickaholic4077..thanks for your kind remarks...sorry about my anti-Fantasmic sentiments.....
lexmelinda
<font color=blue>Has a Seussical googling DD<br><f
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Well, another beautiful morning at POR but I’m moving a might slower today due to the long day at MGM yesterday. Make coffee, shower again, and wake the kids because there is a definite plan for the morning. I have booked the Pirate Adventure Cruise at the Grand Floridian (GF) for DS. He is excited and hops up like there are springs on his bottom. He puts on his pirate t-shirt. I also have booked brunch ADRs at 1900 Park Fare for the girls and me and this is DH’s day to sleep in, God love him.
I considered driving to the GF for about 5 minutes but with the look-alike Disney roads…the purple signs…I just feel safer with the Disney transportation. I have asked my questions on the DIS and am assured that the quickest way to the GF from the Magic Kingdom is the boat over and the monorail back. The bus service is right on for us this morning and we arrive at the Magic Kingdom to see the opening celebration in progress at the train station. Very cute. Hope we get to see the whole show tomorrow. Keep moving …hurry on to the boat dock, people.
The boat arrives in a couple of minutes and we are seated for a short (3-4) ride to the fabulous GF. We ride over with a nice CM who offers to walk us to the marina where DS’ pirate vessel will depart. We arrive, sign in, and procure DS’ pirate ears and life vest. I am given a pager and told not to worry unless it goes off and then to proceed quickly back to the marina. Both the pager and the receipt must be presented in order to get your pirate back. Simple. Got it!
DS has already struck up a conversation with a Canadian boy who is about his age. The family is very nice and had arrived on the same day we did but will be staying two weeks at the campground. There is a short pirate briefing so the rules are clear to pirates and parents alike. The kids are asked to choose a partner. I see DS and his Canadian friend clasp hands with no words exchanged…cute. The ship sails at 9:30 a.m. for a two hour tour.
The girls and I set out for 1900 Park Fare. We have some time because the only ADR I could get was 10:20 a.m. so we walk slowly and admire the lovely resort. We take the long way around to the front door because frankly, we are lost. As we enter the lobby we are stunned by the beauty of the place. We stand gawking like the hillbillies we obviously are. The place is opulent…spectacular…just beyond-belief-gorgeous. The décor is sort of grand Victorian and done on a very large scale…incredible really…huge chandeliers, wide Gone With the Wind staircase, glass elevator.
We locate 1900 Park Fare and Mary Poppins is our hostess this morning but we are assured that Alice and the Mad Hatter will be there, too. If there’s one Disney movie that the girls have absolutely worn to a frazzle, it is “Alice in Wonderland” so I thought this might be fun for them. We check in at 10:00 a.m. and are seated almost immediately, but the place is half empty so I’m wondering why I couldn’t book an ADR before 10:00 a.m.
The offerings are plentiful and the food is pretty good. I get a few fuzzy pictures of Emily with the characters but Mimi is too cool. The Mad Hatter was hilarious and obviously born for this job. Mary Poppins was a little stiff. “Thank you for the picture,” we say. “Of course,“ says Mary with no smile in a curt English sort of way. Alrighty.
We make our way to the second floor and board the monorail with a hope that we can get to Epcot and pick up some fastpasses for Soarin’ before 11:30. By the time we get to the TTC, we realize that there won’t be time so we decide to just jump back on the resort loop and head to the Polynesian to check it out.
The Polynesian, too, is fabulous in a South Pacific sort of way. We walk around, find the ladies’ room….buzzzzzzz. My emergency pirate pager goes off and my heart skips a beat. I have a look and notice that it says “alarm” but we take no chances and head back to the GF immediately…a little worried. “Oh, so sorry”, the pirate wrangler says, “Some parent must have set the alarm so they’d know when to head back.”
Now we have 20 minutes to kill so we go back inside to enjoy the beauty and air conditioning in the GF lobby. As we approach the staircase, we see a bride having her portrait taken as the wedding party looks on. I comment to the lady standing next to me what a beautiful place for a wedding and she says, “Bet that wedding costs about 20 arms and 48 legs.” Maybe more, I think. I’m also a little curious about how jam-packed the wedding schedule must be if people are booking their weddings on Monday morning…not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Back at the marina we hear the pirate ship coming before we see it. A loud chorus of “YO, HO, YO, HO A PIRATES LIFE FOR ME….AARRRRRRGGGG!” echoes around the marina. Our pirates have apparently located the necessary clues and the treasure chest is opened. Pirate booty is conveniently packaged in green gift bags so distribution is fast and easy. I was surprised at the number of parents who brought their pager but not their receipt….do they really want their pirate back?
Anyway, just so you know the pirate booty is of the dollar store ilk…eye patch, earring, and sticky eyeball with the consistency of a gigantic booger. DS takes out the booger and hands the bag to me along with a bag full of trash that looks like it might have at some point contained his lunch. True fact: Children will walk past 3 garbage cans to hand their trash to their mothers.
We’re outta there via the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and bus to POR because we are pool-bound. May I just say that Ole Man Island pool is wonderful! I met the kids there and searched to find a chair that was only maybe half covered by copulating bugs. Eewww. Get a room!
DH joins us. We all swim, hot tub, and go down the water slide where DS gets the whistle on practically every go. He comes down on his stomach, head first, runs back to the stairs…if there is a rule, he breaks it. We head back to the room and since it’s mid afternoon “the plan” is to head to the World Showcase and the dinner I’ve been looking forward to……..Le Cellier.
DO…book a pirate cruise if your kids are in the 4-8 age range. (I didn’t see many kids that looked much older than DS.) Book as early as possible since the cruises are not offered every day and seating is limited. Do check out the GF (and the deluxe resorts) if you get a chance. Book a dinner, a pirate cruise, a character breakfast, whatever…just get thee to the Grand Floridian. I will make more time to visit the deluxe resorts next trip.
DON’T…forget/throw away/let your spouse leave to go shopping with your receipt if you send your child on the pirate cruise. Don’t book breakfast at 1900 Park Fare again. Try the GF Café next time. (That one is just for me.) If your kids love the characters, especially Pooh and Alice characters then move 1900 Park Fare breakfast back up to the DO list.
I considered driving to the GF for about 5 minutes but with the look-alike Disney roads…the purple signs…I just feel safer with the Disney transportation. I have asked my questions on the DIS and am assured that the quickest way to the GF from the Magic Kingdom is the boat over and the monorail back. The bus service is right on for us this morning and we arrive at the Magic Kingdom to see the opening celebration in progress at the train station. Very cute. Hope we get to see the whole show tomorrow. Keep moving …hurry on to the boat dock, people.
The boat arrives in a couple of minutes and we are seated for a short (3-4) ride to the fabulous GF. We ride over with a nice CM who offers to walk us to the marina where DS’ pirate vessel will depart. We arrive, sign in, and procure DS’ pirate ears and life vest. I am given a pager and told not to worry unless it goes off and then to proceed quickly back to the marina. Both the pager and the receipt must be presented in order to get your pirate back. Simple. Got it!
DS has already struck up a conversation with a Canadian boy who is about his age. The family is very nice and had arrived on the same day we did but will be staying two weeks at the campground. There is a short pirate briefing so the rules are clear to pirates and parents alike. The kids are asked to choose a partner. I see DS and his Canadian friend clasp hands with no words exchanged…cute. The ship sails at 9:30 a.m. for a two hour tour.
The girls and I set out for 1900 Park Fare. We have some time because the only ADR I could get was 10:20 a.m. so we walk slowly and admire the lovely resort. We take the long way around to the front door because frankly, we are lost. As we enter the lobby we are stunned by the beauty of the place. We stand gawking like the hillbillies we obviously are. The place is opulent…spectacular…just beyond-belief-gorgeous. The décor is sort of grand Victorian and done on a very large scale…incredible really…huge chandeliers, wide Gone With the Wind staircase, glass elevator.
We locate 1900 Park Fare and Mary Poppins is our hostess this morning but we are assured that Alice and the Mad Hatter will be there, too. If there’s one Disney movie that the girls have absolutely worn to a frazzle, it is “Alice in Wonderland” so I thought this might be fun for them. We check in at 10:00 a.m. and are seated almost immediately, but the place is half empty so I’m wondering why I couldn’t book an ADR before 10:00 a.m.
The offerings are plentiful and the food is pretty good. I get a few fuzzy pictures of Emily with the characters but Mimi is too cool. The Mad Hatter was hilarious and obviously born for this job. Mary Poppins was a little stiff. “Thank you for the picture,” we say. “Of course,“ says Mary with no smile in a curt English sort of way. Alrighty.
We make our way to the second floor and board the monorail with a hope that we can get to Epcot and pick up some fastpasses for Soarin’ before 11:30. By the time we get to the TTC, we realize that there won’t be time so we decide to just jump back on the resort loop and head to the Polynesian to check it out.
The Polynesian, too, is fabulous in a South Pacific sort of way. We walk around, find the ladies’ room….buzzzzzzz. My emergency pirate pager goes off and my heart skips a beat. I have a look and notice that it says “alarm” but we take no chances and head back to the GF immediately…a little worried. “Oh, so sorry”, the pirate wrangler says, “Some parent must have set the alarm so they’d know when to head back.”
Now we have 20 minutes to kill so we go back inside to enjoy the beauty and air conditioning in the GF lobby. As we approach the staircase, we see a bride having her portrait taken as the wedding party looks on. I comment to the lady standing next to me what a beautiful place for a wedding and she says, “Bet that wedding costs about 20 arms and 48 legs.” Maybe more, I think. I’m also a little curious about how jam-packed the wedding schedule must be if people are booking their weddings on Monday morning…not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Back at the marina we hear the pirate ship coming before we see it. A loud chorus of “YO, HO, YO, HO A PIRATES LIFE FOR ME….AARRRRRRGGGG!” echoes around the marina. Our pirates have apparently located the necessary clues and the treasure chest is opened. Pirate booty is conveniently packaged in green gift bags so distribution is fast and easy. I was surprised at the number of parents who brought their pager but not their receipt….do they really want their pirate back?
Anyway, just so you know the pirate booty is of the dollar store ilk…eye patch, earring, and sticky eyeball with the consistency of a gigantic booger. DS takes out the booger and hands the bag to me along with a bag full of trash that looks like it might have at some point contained his lunch. True fact: Children will walk past 3 garbage cans to hand their trash to their mothers.
We’re outta there via the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and bus to POR because we are pool-bound. May I just say that Ole Man Island pool is wonderful! I met the kids there and searched to find a chair that was only maybe half covered by copulating bugs. Eewww. Get a room!
DH joins us. We all swim, hot tub, and go down the water slide where DS gets the whistle on practically every go. He comes down on his stomach, head first, runs back to the stairs…if there is a rule, he breaks it. We head back to the room and since it’s mid afternoon “the plan” is to head to the World Showcase and the dinner I’ve been looking forward to……..Le Cellier.
DO…book a pirate cruise if your kids are in the 4-8 age range. (I didn’t see many kids that looked much older than DS.) Book as early as possible since the cruises are not offered every day and seating is limited. Do check out the GF (and the deluxe resorts) if you get a chance. Book a dinner, a pirate cruise, a character breakfast, whatever…just get thee to the Grand Floridian. I will make more time to visit the deluxe resorts next trip.
DON’T…forget/throw away/let your spouse leave to go shopping with your receipt if you send your child on the pirate cruise. Don’t book breakfast at 1900 Park Fare again. Try the GF Café next time. (That one is just for me.) If your kids love the characters, especially Pooh and Alice characters then move 1900 Park Fare breakfast back up to the DO list.
disneydebbi
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- May 17, 2005
- Messages
- 49
Loving the TR!
DisneyObsession
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2006
- Messages
- 1,492
Glad to see James enjoyed the Pirate Adventure Cruise! It looks like LOTS of fun!
The breakfast may not have been great, but you had some great quality time with your girls! That is more the memory than the breakfast anyway! (Do any of you remember what you ate, or the fun the 3 of you had?) I miss those times with my girls. Enjoy them!
The breakfast may not have been great, but you had some great quality time with your girls! That is more the memory than the breakfast anyway! (Do any of you remember what you ate, or the fun the 3 of you had?) I miss those times with my girls. Enjoy them!
PrincessV
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2006
- Messages
- 14,318
I'm so happy to see a report of the pirate cruise! My DS4 is very into pirates these days, but I wasn't sure what to think about the cruise. He's still a bit young (read: won't want to leave Mommy behind!) for it now, but I think he'd love it in another year!
Sounds like everyone had a good day
Sounds like everyone had a good day
monymony3471
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 17, 2005
- Messages
- 7,027
Just wanted to say hi and I am reading on! 
novdisneydreams
Mouseketeer
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- Oct 16, 2005
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- 315
lexmelinda
<font color=blue>Has a Seussical googling DD<br><f
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2006
- Messages
- 3,361
disneydebbi, monymony3471, novdisneydreams...thanks for reading. I have not written anything except a personal check since college and I am a might wordier than I'd hoped. Thanks for sticking with me..
DisneyObsession...You know how time flies with kids. That's part of the reason I booked this trip...as sort of a last chance family vacation. The girls are growing so quickly and will be gone before we know it. Nice to spend some "girl time" with them and we actually got another chance on this vacation...if I ever get that far in this report........
PrincessV...Definitely book the pirate cruise for Leo...as soon as he's ready to let you stay on the dock....with your pager and receipt. I think the kids had a great time and $30 (including lunch and booty) is a pretty cheap cruise by Disney standards. It'll give you some adult time, too. If anyone has not checked out PrincessV's fabulous, courageous, mom/son trip report, please do so at your earliest convenience...Where's the Lime??? It also contains a link to her holiday pre-trippie.
DisneyObsession...You know how time flies with kids. That's part of the reason I booked this trip...as sort of a last chance family vacation. The girls are growing so quickly and will be gone before we know it. Nice to spend some "girl time" with them and we actually got another chance on this vacation...if I ever get that far in this report........
PrincessV...Definitely book the pirate cruise for Leo...as soon as he's ready to let you stay on the dock....with your pager and receipt. I think the kids had a great time and $30 (including lunch and booty) is a pretty cheap cruise by Disney standards. It'll give you some adult time, too. If anyone has not checked out PrincessV's fabulous, courageous, mom/son trip report, please do so at your earliest convenience...Where's the Lime??? It also contains a link to her holiday pre-trippie.
ZZUB
Roll Tide, Mean It
- Joined
- May 9, 2003
- Messages
- 947
Well that answers the question of "what's for lunch?"
As the reigning Gold Medalist in Men's Waterslide Olympics, I have a bit of advice for James: it is imperative that you rotate back to the politically correct position before the final turn. Otherwise, you're just some dork who keeps breaking the rules.
lexmelinda
<font color=blue>Has a Seussical googling DD<br><f
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2006
- Messages
- 3,361
SamIAm21....Thanks for reading...I know it's long....can we get an editor in here?
I think this only applies if you are a Disney adult (over age 9) and an officer of the court. I'll have to check the Olympic rule book on this.ZZUB said:
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