You Best Start Believing in Ghost Stories...Halloween on the Dream | The End P40 8/15

[FreezinRafiki]

Joining in for the fun! I can't wait to hear how the cruise was during Halloween. I'm thinking of either doing a back to back during Halloween on the Dream in 2013 or 7 nights on the Fantasy during Thanksgiving 2013.

Welcome! Not to spoil anything, but we had an absolute blast on the cruise. Being Halloween made it that much more fun!

So in other words, he was trying to make you suffer.

Again - it was Grandpa & the kids's idea.

(Note I've said this 3 times already and never really defined "the kids")

I just spent the last two days reading some of your other trip reports and absolutely them! The humor is fantastic! I'm so glad I get to read another trip report for your family!

Two days reading my stuff?!? I don't know whether I should be flattered or concerned for your mental well being. But since you've come back for more, I'll take flattered!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Yay you started!

I'm liking your ripple effects plus your story of how the cruise came about.

Thanks!

I must of unknowingly took a page out of the FrozenMonkey's planing book when I asked Melody if she wanted to go on the Disney cruise out of NYC. It went exactly the same way.

I'm very contagious like that.

Awww... I'm sure you wanted Bambi's parents to come. (and I see by Bambi's response I was right!)

I'll say this: it was nice having them along. But we already have a next cruise booked, and it will be nice not having them along. I hope that's enough doublespeak for you.

After carrying all that luggage, I bet you wished you just threw it all in your van and drove to Florida.

Coming from someone who's never made the drive from CT...

How cute Evan & Madison coloring together... so how long did that last?

If I recall, it lasted the rest of the flight. They were warned that if there were any "incidents" they would be separated immediately.

Mmmmmm.... warm chocolate chip cookies

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Others use it on TR's about their road trips.

So THAT'S where I stole that from. I knew I'd seen it somewhere before.

Put up a lot of resistance, I see.

As a married man, you know the importance of picking your battles. That would have been a very dumb battle to pick.

I was wondering where my wayback machine went. Did you gas it up before you put it back?

I was going to, but at nearly $4 a gallon I must have "forgot"

I bet this is the same person who expects a front-row position at the parades in WDW when they show up 2 minutes before they start.

You that guy too, huh?

(crickets)

How about this: I parked so far from BWI that I could see the bloody run-off from Slaughter Beach.

Your deductive skills are as sharp as ever.

No, if my deductive skills were actually sharp, I would know that you were being sarcastic. But since they're not - thanks for the compliment!

Sounds like it just took away your short-term memory.

Oh no, there's things that are lost in my long term memory as well.

That is an awesome sign.

Must have been a DOT project.

That couldn't be a pregnancy craving. Pregnancy cravings are usually much weirder.

I've been very disappointed in her current pregnancy. I've even had to ask her a few times: "Do you want me to run to the frozen custard stand before they close? Because I will. For you."

 

[that's nice]

Coming from someone who's never made the drive from CT...

I drove to Panama City Beach for spring break in a mini-van full of 7 guys. Did it once and that is why I fly now.

 

[afwdwfan]

I can't speak for Mrs Fields, but I did find out what they put in Girl Scout Cookies to make them so good:

Again - it was Grandpa & the kids's idea.

(Note I've said this 3 times already and never really defined "the kids")

You don't need to define "the kids." We all know, and that's why you keep having to address this subject.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I can't speak for Mrs Fields, but I did find out what they put in Girl Scout Cookies to make them so good:

Must have been a DOT project.

No, they never let us have that much fun.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

I drove to Panama City Beach for spring break in a mini-van full of 7 guys. Did it once and that is why I fly now.

I had a joke all queued up about "there's no way your current family could smell that bad" then I thought about what Christopher can probably do in a diaper and decided that, yeah, your current family can smell that bad. Enjoy the plane ride!

No, they never let us have that much fun.

Oh come on - you're going to sit there and tell me that roundabouts aren't just a big joke at the DOT and the designers don't fall out of their chairs laughing every time they decided to put one in?

 

[Poolrat]

I was wondering where my wayback machine went. Did you gas it up before you put it back?


.

I love the wayback machine.

I I can't speak for Mrs Fields, but I did find out what they put in Girl Scout Cookies to make them so good:

I knew it. Those Girl Scouts will do anything to increase sales.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

We woke up early on the morning of October 29th with one singular goal in mind: to make the 98 mile trek from Grandma & Grandpa's house in Lakeland to Port Caneveral. Our cruise left the next day and we wanted to make sure we were there in time. There were 6 of us so we didn't exactly fit in their Ford Explorer very well. We packed up all of our suitcases, carry ons, etc and started loading. Some stuff went in back, some in the soft-sided cargo bag on the roof. Dean drove, Bambi rode shotgun, Carol sat between the kid's booster seats in the back seat. And I had just enough room between the suitcases in the rear cargo area to squeeze myself in. Was it redneck? Yes, but that's how we roll.

As we were barreling up I-4, I had an epiphany. Well, two of them, actually. But I don't think anyone here wants to hear about how free will can exist in a world where events are pre-destined to occur based on the fact that wormholes in the space/time continuum allow gravitational rifts to develop between alternate (but not parallel) universes. You guys probably want to hear about the Disney Epiphany...

What if - now, hear me out here, this is just a theory - instead of driving straight to Port Canaveral and spending 28 hours hanging around the Country Inn waiting for the boat, we stopped at Disney World and hung around the Magic Kingdom for the day instead?

I think the kids like the idea!

The Magic Kingdom was decked out in all of it's Halloween finest.

After checking out the scene on Main Street, USA, I gathered up everyone's park tickets and ran for Big Thunder Mountain FastPasses while the rest of the family took in the harvest splendor. As I passed Cinderella's Castle, I heard a message come over the PA that the "Dream Along With Mickey" show had been canceled. I'm not sure why, but I think it was because we had some rain earlier and perhaps the stage was too wet to safely dance on? They did shoot off the fireworks that go with the show, so that was nice. And as I would find out in a few minutes, they had another surprise in store.

I quickly made my way back to BTMRR, grabbed the FastPasses, yelled "Go Bucky!" to a family in Wisconsin shirts, and made my way back to the Main Street. I looked around the perimeter of the hub and saw the Princesses with their Princes all in meet & greets! They were just wrapping up, and one lucky little girl got to go for a walk hand in hand (in hand) with Aurora and Philip.

There were more than just the Disney Royalty out, too. The dancers from the show were wondering around the hub as well. No one was really paying much attention to them, so I stopped a couple for a picture so they wouldn't feel bad.

I met up with everyone again over by the Plaza restaurant. I turned around to see that my old saying of "Disney doesn't control the weather - yet" had finally been proven outdated. Disney went all out, rolling in dark and ominous clouds to really enhance the spooky Halloween effect.

Evan wanted to ride the Tomorrowland Speedway, but on our way over we encountered Push. And some crazy tourist who never took his hand out of his man purse and kept talking to himself. Wacko.

We continued on to the Speedway, where Bambi decided that being pregnant and repeated slamming into the center guard rail were conditions that needed to be mutually exclusive. So Grandma was drafted into duty to ride shotgun with Madison. It appears she's done this before - they're not even moving yet and she's already white-knuckling the hand hold.

I hopped in the blaze orange car (fitting for a couple of Sconnies, don't cha know) with Evan and we were off. Look at him checking his blind spot before cutting off the old lady in the station wagon. Such as good driver!

Cute sign, Disney. But let's get the painters our here and quote marks around "Racing" before you open yourself up to false advertising lawsuit.

Both kids got their Official Tomorrowland Speedway Driver's Licenses!

We meandered up the path a bit and found the White Rabbit in front of the tea cups with barely a line.

Then grandma drew the short straw and had to get in the tea cups with the mad hatters and their spinning cup of death.

Again, Disney did a fine job with the clouds today. They kept them very ominous when used as a backdrop for the Halloween displays, but opened them up, allowing sunshine to rain down on the forthcoming Fantasyland expansion.

I'll close this update with one of my favorite pictures. Brother and sister, walking hand in hand through Fantasyland in search of adventure.

Coming Up Next: Read the back of Madison's shirt. Don't believe a word of it.

 

[amandaw]

I like your Disney epiphany! The other one......well, it just confused me!

But, seriously, I think that was a great idea to spend the day at MK! It definitely looks like y'all were having a lot of fun. And I love, love, love that last picture! How sweet! Y'all need to frame that one!

 

[middlepat]

Dean drove, Bambi rode shotgun, Carol sat between the kid's booster seats in the back seat. And I had just enough room between the suitcases in the rear cargo area to squeeze myself in. Was it redneck? Yes, but that's how we roll.

Why do I have the song "Daddy Sang Bass" going through my head?

As we were barreling up I-4, I had an epiphany. Well, two of them, actually. But I don't think anyone here wants to hear about how free will can exist in a world where events are pre-destined to occur based on the fact that wormholes in the space/time continuum allow gravitational rifts to develop between alternate (but not parallel) universes.

You relativity guys are always using that alternate but not parallel arguement to justify anything.

You guys probably want to hear about the Disney Epiphany...

Oh yeah, this might be better suited here....

What if - now, hear me out here, this is just a theory - instead of driving straight to Port Canaveral and spending 28 hours hanging around the Country Inn waiting for the boat, we stopped at Disney World and hung around the Magic Kingdom for the day instead?

You could have reduced that 28 hours by finding a Chicago style pizza place to wait out for 2-3 of those hours...

And as I would find out in a few minutes, they had another surprise in store.

Another wormhole?

I quickly made my way back to BTMRR, grabbed the FastPasses, yelled "Go Bucky!" to a family in Wisconsin shirts, and made my way back to the Main Street.

That badger is everywhere, isn't it.

I looked around the perimeter of the hub and saw the Princesses with their Princes all in meet & greets! They were just wrapping up, and one lucky little girl got to go for a walk hand in hand (in hand) with Aurora and Philip.

There were more than just the Disney Royalty out, too. The dancers from the show were wondering around the hub as well. No one was really paying much attention to them, so I stopped a couple for a picture so they wouldn't feel bad.

$10 says that guy is thinking "Why won't this guy just let me get back to the break-room."

I met up with everyone again over by the Plaza restaurant. I turned around to see that my old saying of "Disney doesn't control the weather - yet" had finally been proven outdated. Disney went all out, rolling in dark and ominous clouds to really enhance the spooky Halloween effect.

Cool effects.... almost as cool as the wavy fade....

Evan wanted to ride the Tomorrowland Speedway, but on our way over we encountered Push. And some crazy tourist who never took his hand out of his man purse and kept talking to himself. Wacko.

Must be from Wisconsin....

We continued on to the Speedway, where Bambi decided that being pregnant and repeated slamming into the center guard rail were conditions that needed to be mutually exclusive. So Grandma was drafted into duty to ride shotgun with Madison. It appears she's done this before - they're not even moving yet and she's already white-knuckling the hand hold.

Ahhhh.... the application of past experience.

I hopped in the blaze orange car (fitting for a couple of Sconnies, don't cha know) with Evan and we were off. Look at him checking his blind spot before cutting off the old lady in the station wagon. Such as good driver!

I thought the Wisconsin color was "primer orange" not "Blaze Orange"

Both kids got their Official Tomorrowland Speedway Driver's Licenses!

If I'm not mistaken these acutally work if you get a job as a cabbie in NYC.

Then grandma drew the short straw and had to get in the tea cups with the mad hatters and their spinning cup of death.

Cool shot.

I'll close this update with one of my favorite pictures. Brother and sister, walking hand in hand through Fantasyland in search of adventure.

Nice pic and great update.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Oh come on - you're going to sit there and tell me that roundabouts aren't just a big joke at the DOT and the designers don't fall out of their chairs laughing every time they decided to put one in?

We don't start laughing until we watch people try and drive them. We keep refining them until we're sure they're idiot-proof, and then...people prove us wrong.

I'll have to come back to comment later.

 

[MEK]

I can't speak for Mrs Fields, but I did find out what they put in Girl Scout Cookies to make them so good:

OMG! That is awesome! No wonder you can't just eat one! I finally gave them up this year because the fewest I can eat is, well, whatever is left in the entire open package.

Great update! Smart move stopping at the MK. Looks like such a fun day. I love the picture of you and your son. And your son and daughter holding hands. That's so cute! Now the spinning tea cup of doom I can live without.

 

[petals]

Love the update!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Best spur of the moment decision ever!

 

[E3yore]

He sure made it sound like the kids and I were going to drive right past Disney without stopping. I would not want to be in the car with the kids if that had happened.

 

[Liza111577]

Great update! Absolutely love the pic of them holding hands.

 

[bkgkdisneymom]

Of course you had to stop at Magic Kingdom! Looks like a fun morning!

I like your Admirals hat. Pirates+skeletons+hockey=one cool sports logo!

 

[afwdwfan]

And I had just enough room between the suitcases in the rear cargo area to squeeze myself in. Was it redneck? Yes, but that's how we roll.

Where's Fed when you need him? Sounds like a seat belt violation to me.

What if - now, hear me out here, this is just a theory - instead of driving straight to Port Canaveral and spending 28 hours hanging around the Country Inn waiting for the boat, we stopped at Disney World and hung around the Magic Kingdom for the day instead?

The BS detector is going off. I'm guessing this was planned before you illegally loaded yourself into the cargo area of an SUV since you left early in the morning a day before you needed to be there.

The Magic Kingdom was decked out in all of it's Halloween finest.

I really want to see that sometime.

I met up with everyone again over by the Plaza restaurant. I turned around to see that my old saying of "Disney doesn't control the weather - yet" had finally been proven outdated. Disney went all out, rolling in dark and ominous clouds to really enhance the spooky Halloween effect.

Aren't the technological breakthroughs that they roll out just more amazing all the time?

And some crazy tourist who never took his hand out of his man purse and kept talking to himself. Wacko.

It's called a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one.

We continued on to the Speedway, where Bambi decided that being pregnant and repeated slamming into the center guard rail were conditions that needed to be mutually exclusive.

Hmmm... that conversation sounds familiar.

By the way, how is she feeling these days?

Then grandma drew the short straw and had to get in the tea cups with the mad hatters and their spinning cup of death.

Poor grandma. She's getting all the tough assignments.

We don't start laughing until we watch people try and drive them. We keep refining them until we're sure they're idiot-proof, and then...people prove us wrong.

They put in a new roundabout in a town south of here a couple of years ago. One of my co-workers went down there one day and came into work complaining about it and talking about how he almost had a big wreck. After I asked a few questions and got to the bottom of things, I found out he didn't know that you aren't supposed to turn left....

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Dean drove, Bambi rode shotgun, Carol sat between the kid's booster seats in the back seat. And I had just enough room between the suitcases in the rear cargo area to squeeze myself in. Was it redneck? Yes, but that's how we roll.

Isn't that where the moonshine and illegal fireworks go?

But I don't think anyone here wants to hear about how free will can exist in a world where events are pre-destined to occur based on the fact that wormholes in the space/time continuum allow gravitational rifts to develop between alternate (but not parallel) universes.

Don't underestimate your audience. I'm sure there's a fart joke in here somewhere.

What if - now, hear me out here, this is just a theory - instead of driving straight to Port Canaveral and spending 28 hours hanging around the Country Inn waiting for the boat, we stopped at Disney World and hung around the Magic Kingdom for the day instead?

Did this epiphany happen on the drive or 6 months before the drive?

I quickly made my way back to BTMRR, grabbed the FastPasses, yelled "Go Bucky!" to a family in Wisconsin shirts,

And they yelled back, "You want me to do WHAT?!"

I met up with everyone again over by the Plaza restaurant. I turned around to see that my old saying of "Disney doesn't control the weather - yet" had finally been proven outdated. Disney went all out, rolling in dark and ominous clouds to really enhance the spooky Halloween effect.

Man, that's impressive. I can't wait till they take on the national debt.

Evan wanted to ride the Tomorrowland Speedway, but on our way over we encountered Push. And some crazy tourist who never took his hand out of his man purse and kept talking to himself. Wacko.

Probably a DOT guy.

So Grandma was drafted into duty to ride shotgun with Madison. It appears she's done this before - they're not even moving yet and she's already white-knuckling the hand hold.

I thought Bambi wanted the baby out early. This might have helped.

Cute sign, Disney. But let's get the painters our here and quote marks around "Racing" before you open yourself up to false advertising lawsuit.

Then grandma drew the short straw and had to get in the tea cups with the mad hatters and their spinning cup of death.[?QUOTE]

Man, she's taking a lot for the team here.

I'll close this update with one of my favorite pictures. Brother and sister, walking hand in hand through Fantasyland in search of adventure.

Awesome.