Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A Trip Report for me! COMPLETED!

[GeminiAngel]

The kids look so cute!!!!
Can't wait for more, I like cliff hangers.

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

The kids look great! Can't wait for more

 

[PADISFAM]

Great updates Amanda! (I got very far behind somehow )

can't wait for more

 

[creativeamanda]

The kids look so cute!!!!
Can't wait for more, I like cliff hangers.

Thanks for reading! I'll try to get another update during the holidays! Stay tuned.

The kids look great! Can't wait for more

Thanks, Anna!

Great updates Amanda! (I got very far behind somehow )

can't wait for more

Maybe you got so far behind because you are still unfreezing yourself? It was cold!

 

[GeminiAngel]

Gobble, Gobble!!!

Happy ThanksGiving!!!!

 

[creativeamanda]

Gobble, Gobble!!!

Happy ThanksGiving!!!!

Thanks! Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

Happy Thanksgiving Amanda!

 

[GeminiAngel]

Have a Merry Christmas!!!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Darn, thought there would be an update on the 2007 trip report!

 

[creativeamanda]

Darn, thought there would be an update on the 2007 trip report!

Considering it's a 2008 trip report. . .hmmmm. . .

Work has been crazy lately. I am hoping for another update tomorrow and getting started on my PTR when I pay the gosh darn deposit. . .

 

[PADISFAM]

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Considering it's a 2008 trip report. . .hmmmm. . .

Work has been crazy lately. I am hoping for another update tomorrow and getting started on my PTR when I pay the gosh darn deposit. . .

That was dated the 13th, Hmmmmm

 

[creativeamanda]

I have to first apologize for being so late in my update. Just before my last update, our dog was seriously injured, and then Thanksgiving came and Christmas. And then, I tried to update only to have Photobucket hang on me. The problem is. . .I never really paid homage to pirates, and this comes in the night of the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, when it was so cold, I prayed that a cup filled with warm rum would appear in my hand!
So, last time I dropped you all off (with a cliff hanger, nonetheless—sorry), we were walking into Magic Kingdom for MNSSHP. The kids were all excited to see the Halloween Party and I was really feeling the Halloween spirit of Magic Kingdom. We go in, ride Pirates of the Caribbean, and then proceed to our first ever trip on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I thought Big Ole Boy would try it, but unfortunately, he walked through the line and then through the ride! Kid! Try it!

No can do. The girls and I rode BTMR, though. . .twice. Because the bff showed up with his wife and daughter and after my first trip through BTMR, I got to ride with METDawg (the bff’s daughter’s nickname). She loved it! We then proceeded to start trick-or-treating and it was absolutely the best way to trick or treat! No waling from house to house. No getting into and out of the car. And no trip to the liquor store to trick-or-treat (ironically, the hot spot in our town for trick or treating).

So, we continue through the park, where we meet up briefly with dh’s brother, who was dressed as none other than President-elect Barack Obama. He got plenty of cheers, even as he did the John McCain “thumbs up”. Apparently, no one noticed what he was doing. Go figure.

By this time, it’s getting pretty darn chilly. And me, in my capris, well, I’m getting rather envious of Big ‘Ole Boy’s Pirate Costume and wishing for a pirate’s cup of rum! But we press on! To the Haunted Mansion!!!!!! Which seemed more spooky than earlier on our trip! Maybe it was the people dressed for Halloween there, or just the night atmosphere!

We ate dinner at Cosmic Rays and finished just in time to see fireworks. And let me just say, although spooky, the castle was just beautiful!

Then, we did our favorite thing for the trip. . .the Boo to You Parade! We froze our behinds on the sidewalk, and yet again, I wished I was I pirate, but we pressed on. (Note to self, next time, bring a blanket!)

The queen of Hearts came right up to us! I thought Boo was going to scream or something! At least she stayed up for this parade!!!! 

Did I mention it was cold! 43 Degrees in Florida in October!!!!!! But I will say this about it. Trick or treating in our home town this coming year is gonna be a real let down after trick-or-treating in the Magic Kingdom! I’m going to miss it! It is an experience I would recommend to anyone! I worried over and over again that the money spent on the tickets would be wasted. Absolutely not!!!! That was the best use of our money there other than something that will wait until the next day for me to report on. Stay tuned for more.

Next. . .
Lions and Tigers and Monkeys? (Oh MY! And close your eyes, LegoMom!)

 

[creativeamanda]

Where is everyone?!? Has it been so long that I've lost my readers?

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Where is everyone?!? Has it been so long that I've lost my readers?

You HAD readers....

everyone moved on.....

hehehehehehe

 

[creativeamanda]

You HAD readers....

everyone moved on.....

hehehehehehe

I had to give homage to the pirates. . .

RUM?

 

[twinmom]

Just found your report. First I have to say I have many, many moments of crying at Disney. The fireworks, seeing Mary Poppins (long story), arriving at MK for the first time, leaving.......Those are the good crys. Then I cry when all my 3 boys seem to do is argue and want to sleep and not ride rides.......I've learned if I cry they give in and act a lot nicer to their dear old mom.

Second, I have to tell you I love the picture of your family at Epcot. It is great. I would say "Christmas Card" but it is too late. Oh well.

Lastly, the pictures of Dumbo and the fireworks were awesome. That is a picture I would want to frame and have out to see always. I felt the memories rushing back looking at it and I wasn't even there

Keep up the good work.

 

[creativeamanda]

Just found your report. First I have to say I have many, many moments of crying at Disney. The fireworks, seeing Mary Poppins (long story), arriving at MK for the first time, leaving.......Those are the good crys. Then I cry when all my 3 boys seem to do is argue and want to sleep and not ride rides.......I've learned if I cry they give in and act a lot nicer to their dear old mom.

Second, I have to tell you I love the picture of your family at Epcot. It is great. I would say "Christmas Card" but it is too late. Oh well.

Lastly, the pictures of Dumbo and the fireworks were awesome. That is a picture I would want to frame and have out to see always. I felt the memories rushing back looking at it and I wasn't even there

Keep up the good work.

Thanks! The EPCOT pics were taken by my friend and the Dumbo pic--well, just looking at it takes me back to that day! It was just awesome! Thanks for reading!!!

 

[creativeamanda]

So, here we are, coming up to our last day. (Sniff, sniff). We left the party freezing th enight before, being lulled to sleep on the bus back to Port Orleans by the sound of banjos and crickets. Ah, home sweet home. Only, for some reason, Disney felt it necessary to uproot us from our home rudely the next morning.

We woke up the next morning and while we were packing our car for the trip home, we found what I refer to as Disney's "nasty-gram". You know, the note letting us know how much we had charged back to our room. And guess what?!? The bottom line that day was. . .$214.00! I can go shopping, as we were at the time, $800 BELOW budget! At that point, I'm pleased that all we did with the room key was tips.

Now that morning we had reservations at Boma for 8. Unfortunately, the people who were meeting us for breakfast told us (the night before--grrrr) that yeah, they weren't going. Now I can be a bit irritable at times, but that was the first for several things that happened that made me irritated with this family. But, I digress, and as the irritation is not the direct problem of Wakt Disney World or the Walt Disney Travel Company, I refuse to elaborate on any more of that nastiness.

So, no Boma. We spend our very last morning at Riverside Mill. And it was nice to sit together as a family and eat at beautiful Riverside Mill. I was already becoming nostalgic. What a beautiful location for a food court. We sat near the big wheel. And enjoyed our last minutes together at Port Orleans-Riverside. At this point, I think group therapy for me may be appropriate. Leaving there felt akin to being evicted from the home I have loved forever! Only one more day was not in the plans and all good things here on earth have to come to an end, do they not?

Anyway, goodbye home. . .until next time. . .

So, we finish breakfast and drive over to what is my husband's favorite park: Animal Kingdom. Our dream one day is to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and next trip, we will definitely not leave Animal Kingdom to last! It's going to be early on when we ar enot tired and cranky, believe me!

Now, I must interject here and remind every one that the night before was COLD!!!! I mean, really cold. The next morning was not that much warmer, which I am told, is great for Animal Kingdom.

At least the kids are happy to be here. . .

We run into Animal Kingdom and head straight for Asia.

And what ride do we go to? Not Expedition Everest, that would be too easy and warm. Not one of the trails.

We go to Kali River Rapids!

In 40-degree weather!

We leave the ride a little wet. I remember a tea cart as we are going in, so we grab some hot chocolate and espresso and Sweetie and I get fastpasses (that I never use!) to Expedition Everest. But I did get a good picture of it!

We, like crazy people, go ride Kali River Rapids 2 consecutive times and unfortunately get soaked! We spend some time getting others wet on the bridge, where a family from Japan told us they were going to get us. Boo had the whole thing down pat--she knew exactly when to fire!

Now some of us were so wet, we had to go to the bathroom and use the hand dryers to dry our clothes. And regardless of that, we had to buy some sweatshirts. Almost $100. There went that saved money!

So, we go over to the Jungle Trek and look at a few of the animals.

I loved that Peacock!

And then we go watch It's Tough to Be A Bug. Where, I saw a likeness of proportions that would engage fear in Legomom we have never seen before! All on the Tree of Life!

So, the clothes are finally dry and we are enjoying a day at Animal Kingdom! Up next:

The Boneyard Has Swallowed My Children!!!!

 

[creativeamanda]

I love playgrounds. As a child living in rural boondocks South Carolina, a playground is where the "rich kids" went. And no one could ever accuse my family of being rich. So, like many parents who had little growing up, we proliferate our children with all the stuff we did not have. No trips to the movies? My family is at every imaginable theatre on opening night. No trips to the mall? Psh. My kids think the mall is their second home. Few trips to playgrounds? Hey, we build one in our back yard.

And seeing as how there is a playground in our back yard, what is the draw of a playground set to resemble a hodge-podge of prehistoric times along with the best safety features of 2008? Well, apparently a lot.

I will not go into how irritating I find it to sit and wait. I don't like waiting for other families to catch up with my family on a trip. I would rather just stumble onto them. I would rather say, "Let's go our separate ways and we'll catch up at x o'clock at the Tree of Life." And those were my plans for the day. When it came to the time we were supposed to be at the Boneyard, I was going to ride Expedition Everest. All by MYSELF.

Wrong.

Now, I won't go into specifics, as I will not let my trip report be marred by things that annoyed me. My kids had in our little plans hours devoted to time at the Boneyard, and I was just going to slip off for a few minutes with my Fastpass in hand to go to Expedition Everest and then let dh take off to do something he wanted to do. Except it didn't happen that way.

But hey, who can deny the fun they are having?

Note the new sweatshirt on Boo.

We then wait while Sweetie and her cousin ride with Expedition Everest with Sweetie's uncle. We actually wait for about 30 minutes outside of Kilimanjaro Safaris while they ride either 2 or 3 times in succession. And to be honest, I did not know that was what they were doing and I was by this time, ready to just go to Downtown Disney.

But we have a nice little trip through the Safari, and I get a few great pictures.

Never smile at a crocodile!

And has anyone ever seen leaves on the upside down tree?

We shop a little in Downtown Disney, with us just missing the Jammin Jungle Parade, which dh was told by his sister in law was not a great parade and so he did not want to stay. We bought some candy at Goofy's Candy Shop and then some ornaments at the Christmas shop. We then said good byes to dh's brother while his wife was still in the Pin Traders (after all, I was tired of waiting around that day) and go on to visit the Grand Floridian quite a bit earlier than we had originally planned.

Up Next: A Perfect Ending to a Not So Perfect Day. . .