Day 2, Part 1: Change in Plans
Mickey (and Stitch) called at 8:30. We are all usually raring to go at WDW, especially on these whirlwind trips. But then, we arent accustomed to being out til 1:30am, either! Wesley bounced out of bed, though. About 5 minutes later, a friend of ours called. She knew we were at Disney, so she was calling to see how we were enjoying our trip so far. It was probably a good thing she called. Otherwise, we mightve just crawled back in the bed!
We got ready pretty quickly. We were hoping to be heading to Epcot around 9:30-9:45ish. Mark took everything we didnt need to the car. Along with one thing we DID need: Fast Passes! So he had to make that journey again, to retrieve them. Poor guy! He was sweating and huffing and puffing before wed gone ANYWHERE!
In EXCELLENT news, Wesley and I were both in terrific moods. Mark was in an okay mood. Just tired, I think. So, with any luck (or pixie dust), today will be much better than yesterday!
We walked to Epcot (love being able to walk to Epcot!), basking in the knowledge that we were on our way to our Happy Place. Its so nice to walk through the World Showcase with no one around! We arrived in Norway and took some pictures of Wesley being silly as we waited for our ROYAL family to be called. Im sure they didnt know they actually were in the presence of a prince. But the NEXT time we are there
they will know. I promise!! (Right Amy??) After about 15 minutes, we were ushered in to see Belle. I like seeing Belle in her yellow ball gown. So does Wesley. And so does Mark. Wesley was in a much better frame of mind, character-wise, today. Thank goodness!! He and Belle chatted for a moment, and then she signed his cast. As we were being shown to our table, a manager type person was standing there. He asked Wesley about his arm, and asked if he was going to have all the princesses sign his cast. Wesley giggled and said, Yes, ALL the HOTTIES are going to sign it! The guy tripped out. I tripped out. Mark said (as usual)
I have no idea where he heard that!!
Our waiter stunk. In a word. But breakfast was fine, just the same. Even if I did only get one cup of coffee. Of course, considering how bad Disney coffee is
maybe he was doing me a favor. We saw Mary Poppins, Aurora, Mulan and Jasmine. They each signed his cast, and he posed for pictures. With a very fake smile. And eggs in his mouth. But still. Its better than last night! And I know that he will get more and more at ease as the day goes on.
Mark called some of our Viking friends to tell them we were in Norway. They didnt answer the phone. I guess they were too busy doing
well, I dont know what. So he left them a nice voice mail. Basically saying, Ha ha, were in Norway! Or something along those lines.
And then, in honor of all our dear Viking friends, we rode Maelstrom. Because SOME people (MEL!!!) wont do that for their friends. So we had to. But we did NOT need a Fast Pass. Just walked right on. Imagine that! In the shop, we took a picture of Wesley wearing a Viking hat and wielding a sword. Then we had a CM take a picture of all of us in Viking mode. We dont look very fierce
but I do like the picture. (Yes, we will post some pictures later!)
Somewhere in all of this, Wesley decided he would rather go back to MK today (glad Mark had retrieved those FPs!). So we obliged. After all
we didnt see Cinderellabration last night, or the afternoon parade
We walked to the front of the park and just missed a monorail. So Mark asked if we could have the front. And we could!!
We have had the worst luck with up front monorail experiences. Not that I expect any of you to feel sorry for us, given all the other magic we get
But only once have we had a nice, friendly, talkative monorail driver. This was not the one. I think a Viking friend (or two) kept trying to call us while we were on there, but we never did get to talk to them. So we talked to ourselves, since the driver didnt have anything to say to us.
When we arrived at TTC, Wesley said he wanted to ride the ferry. This was fine, and soon we were entering the turnstiles. In all (including breakfast and the walk through Epcot), I think it took us less time to arrive at MK today than it did last night!! Were feeling magical today! Things are gonna be great! A quick check of the times guide says that the next Cinderellabration show is in about 10 minutes. Given all the other things we want to accomplish today, this might be our best shot to see the show. We love this show. Wesley LOVES this show. Hotties, you know. And Prince Phillip.
Wesley says he does NOT want to see Cinderellabration. Mark and I exchange looks. And when we get to the castle, we see that there is still plenty of space, right up front. Wesley continues to insist that he does not want to see it. I insisted that we see it. Being a bad parent again, I know. It kind of felt like making your kid go on a ride he doesnt want to go on, because you KNOW he will really enjoy it. (We have never done that
but then, I dont think hes ever refused to go on a ride!) Anyway, thats how I felt. But I knew if we didnt see it, then he would be really sad later. So, I insisted. And bribed him with a snack while we waited. And eventually he resigned himself to it, even though he let it be known that he was NOT happy. So what? I was happy! And I wasnt going to let him ruin my Cinderellabration viewing! (I think Mark was kind of ambivalent on this whole thing
I *think* he thought it wasnt worth the hassle we, okay I, was having with Wesley. But I stood firm!)
And then the music started. And the fairy godmother appeared. And Wesley was no longer sitting in his stroller eating Cheese Nips and pouting. No, he was standing up in his stroller to see better. And asking Daddy to put him on his shoulders! He waved at Cinderella and Prince Charming. Although, for us, they are the lesser part of the show. WE are all about the OTHER Royal Couples. By the time they appeared, Wesley was so excited, he was wriggling like a little puppy. On Marks shoulders. I wish I had thought to take a picture of his face! (See? I KNEW I was right about this one!) There they were: Snow White and her Prince
Aurora and Phillip
Jasmine and Aladdin
and
Belle
and MY BEAST PRINCE! I had not seen him since January!! Now I was doubly glad I had insisted! And now, so was Wesley. Because Belle saw him.
Let me explain partly why we love this show so much. It all goes back to that very special, very magical meet and greet we were able to have in January. Subsequent times that we saw the show, much of the cast remembered Wesley. They were calling him by name, a week later. But this Belle is very special. Very special indeed. She was not even the Belle that we met during our meet and greet. But she remembered him from seeing him later during that trip. In fact, on one of our February trips, she called him by name during the parade. How on earth did she DO that?? How many kids do they see in a day? And yet, she remembered Wesley. So for her to see him and recognize him again
he was beside himself. Actually, MOST of the cast recognized him. Belle gave him smiles, waves and kisses throughout the show, and towards the end, she said that she hoped his arm felt better. We were standing in a shower of pixie dust!
We were ALL glad that we stopped to see Cinderellabration. Wesley talked about it for the rest of the morning. Im so glad I made the right decision!!
!)
