Finally she gives a report! Family trip June 07 LOL **Updated 11/3** About This Page:

[mcc0313]

Such a great day....sorry about Everest....Ihate when a ride can set you off for the reaminder of the day but you hung in there like a trooper....

I love the Lion King show as well....I think it is one of the best...Pictures were wonderful...

Waiting for the water parks and Epcot.....

[Tonichelle]

it wasn't that bad, and if I'd eaten better and attempted to drink something non caffinated I probably would have recovered a whole lot faster lol

[Starla4436]

great start and the pictures came out so good...especially the rainy day ones!

[Tonichelle]

We skipped breakfast at teh resort planning to just snack while at the water park and then coming back around noon to head off to Epcot. This was going to be a busy day as mom and dad had dinner at the CA Grill (just the two of them) that night. I'll probably end up with this being a three part deal just to keep it a bit more organized

Anyway I tried very hard to explain to everyone how extra magic hours worked, but considering the fact that no one ever really listens to me and that I wasn't exactly sure I was right mom and Judy were completely confused when they gave us teh wrist bands. They kept trying to tell them that they didn't need one because they weren't going on any water slides (up here the pool that we go to you get a wristband if you pay to go on the waterslide). *smacks forehead*

And they thought it was so cool we got in before a bunch of other people - which I had explained earlier but it didn't sink in until they asked me why we got to cut in line

The boys made a beeline to the Summit Plummit... which, when we got to the base of it mom FREAKED and told dad in no uncertain terms were he and my brother to go on that. That she was sure thousands of people had died and they were not going to add the two of them to that number. Dad 'pulled rank' and got all spiritual on her and she had to let them go. So we said we'd stay and watch (duh! I wasn't passing this up) and so we sat there in the 'bleachers' and dad and duane headed for the ski lift to get up to the line.

Dad forgot to take his socks and sandals off before getting in the lift so he tossed them down to me. And I forgot to tell Duane to take off his aquasocks so guess who had to hold them as he went down? LOL

So we're sitting there watching other people come down and mom got more and more apprehensive as it surely got closer to when we'd see Duane and Dad head up the steps. I told them to wave once they got close to the top so that we'd know. Wouldn't you know it, other people had the same idea as we did who knew I was crafty and figured it out first, right?

They're the two that are 'leaning' out on the rail... with their shades on cuz they're too cool. lol

So they get up there, and dad made Duane go first (that way he couldn't chicken out lol) and we see Duane take his shoes off and down he went! Mom was freaking out the whole time (same as she did on Splash's big drop at MK) and saying 'they're idiots, they're just stupid!'

Here he comes!

There he goes! SPLASH!

and no sooner did he get back to us dad came down.

Here he comes! There He goes!

Wet Beluga Albino Man!

They survived!

After that - which they both loved and if the line hadn't been so long and there were other things to do they would have jumped right back on - we went and rented a locker so that I could stash the camera and we could go on the family raft ride.

Yes, that's right, we got mom to go up high and zoom down. I sat next to her and it wasn't long before we were the ones on the raft floating backwards. It was a lot of fun! If it weren't for the hike up the stairs (I HATE ski lifts) we probably would have gone more than once. I think we laughed the entire way down. It was just GREAT.

After the raft we went our seperate ways, the three white water daredevils (Jillian, Duane, Dad) went for the other extreme attractions, and Judy Mom and I hit the lazy river. After they got coffee and I got a cookie and a soda lol. We went around about three full times. Each time we'd get seperated for a bit but we always managed to find each other. The first time through the cave was... enlightning. The water coming down is flipping COLD! No one warned me about it and it was... um... yeah... *shivers*

Apparently Mom had an even worse time of it, which I didn't get to witness the first time, but the second time I did. She hit every single drip area and screamed like it was no tomorrow. I mean I tried to tell her how she could stear herself on the inner tube but she couldn't get it to work so she was at the mercy of the currant... it was pretty funny. So funny that I was watching what she was doing and not paying attention to where I was and I got hit on the last drip! BRRRRRR

The third time around we decided to take out right before the caves, so I zoomed on down to find Judy to let her know and she was some how stuck in a very slow area and couldn't seem to get out. I still don't know how that happened but it was right after you got past the little hut where the guy sneezes and blows freezing water our of the chimney.

Caught up and sat with her a bit and then mom came around the bend and we were floating together until we hit the take out point - which mom almost missed and paniced because she couldn't go through the cave again! lol

We were laughing so hard we had to ... you know .. so we went and found the ladies' room and then Judy and I decided to do that two man raft luge thingie... which TRIED TO KILL ME! Our raft flipped over and it was on top of me and I couldn't get out from under it. I couldn't find my footing on the bottom to push up and all I could think was 'I'm going to drown in 3 feet of water' lol I panicked and I still don't know how I got my footing but I did. *whew!*

We couldn't find the other three and we had time before we were to meet up to head for the resort, so we jumped back in the lazy river. We got in on one side of the mt. and got out before we had to go through it. I broke off from them and so I missed out on some excitement of theirs. When we split from the boys and Jillian, Jill gave mom her perscription sunglasses so she wouldn't worry about them on the slides and what not. Well, mom forgot that she had them laying in her lap and when she went to get out of her inner tube at the take out point she dropped them in. They were light and the current just pushed them along and she went running after them. Which you can't really do in a lazy river. Some random guy thought she'd lost her wedding ring and went diving in to grab what she dropped and when he came up with the glasses mom gave him a hug and thanked him.

We met up with the other three and headed for the lockers and then back to the resort. Which was a very COLD trip considering the fact that we were still wet and in our wet beach towels and the bus had air conditioning going full blast. BRRRRRR!

We went and changed and headed for lunch at Epcot.

Coming next - the moment that nearly killed the magic... *cue heavy dramatic music*

[x2qwk2cx]

No soup for you!!! lol LOVE YOUR TR!!!! More please!!! Love the pics (I'm a photography freak too!!!)

[Lemap760]

Love your trip report. Can't wait to hear more.

[bsblady01]

more please sounds like you and your family had a magical time at the world

[Colexis Mom]

Another great udpate! Great pictures of them going down the slide

[Minnie Lor]

Aww, no soup? Just when it gets to be soup season around here.

Fabulous pictures. Yikes! way would I do that slide. The lazy river sounds more like my speed. I could do that all day long except for the freezing water in the cave.

[Tonichelle]

what's really cool is that the cave cuts through the base of Summit Plummit and you can hear them race down... it's just cool!

Epcot's coming... just gotta post this comment and start on it

[Tonichelle]

**WARNING: A Not So Magical Disney Moment - well, a few, actually - will be documented in the post below. Please do not over judge anyone in the story. It was bound to happen in the heat. But yeah...**

We showered and changed and headed back to the buses with the idea that we would walk to Beaches and Cream. Which meant walking through Epcot and heading straight for the International Walk Way... um, yeah. Note here - don't do that in the heat of the day in JUNE. Take a freaking bus! LOL

We get up and over the bridge and I had everyone fork...left. Which was the wrong way to go. We were already griping because my dad was BOOKING it trying to get us there so that we could get into air conditioning. My aunt was being extremely annoying with the whole deal saying it was unfair to walk (but she didn't want to wait for a bus so I don't get it at all).

We were just hot, tired, and our feet were sore and we were all mega grumps because we were HUNGRY.

To make a very long story very short EVERYONE jumped on me because my planning when awry. Which royally ticked me off because I was told months before that we weren't going to plan a whole lot that we were going to be spontaneous and all that. And I flat lost it and basically said screw it. I was so sick of being blamed for a lot of mini mishaps along the way and it totally ruined my mood for the rest of the day. (which unfortunately would come into play later in the day UGH)

So by the time we realized the whole stupid mistake on my part (which I totally understand was my fault. I didn't read the map and I didn't get good directions and dad had said he thought we should go Right) it was about the same difference if we walked back around or kept going. And we just didn't have the time, paitence, or emotional well being. So dad basically blew up at everyone for blowing up at me and went and found a resteraunt that was open and was serving a similar menu (because mom wanted a burger and fries and a milkshake and this was her lunch date lol).

We ate at.... um.... *looks it up* Big River Grille - OMG I loved the food. I'm pretty sure everyone did. Mom and dad ate pretty light considering they were going to have a pretty decent sized dinner at the CA Grill later that night, and so they had burgers lol I had the Chicken Alfredo (which dairy and I don't get along but I didn't care I had planned to have it somewhere in teh trip. As longas I don't over do it I can normally get away with having it once in a while lol)

Everything was so very good and we were much better after eating. We decided to wait for the ferry to take us back, and then off we walked through part of the World Showcase. I must admit that we should have planned a full day at Epcot. I honestly looking back feel we should have skipped Sea World altogether and just went and did a full day at Epcot because it just wasn't enough time the two half days we did it.

Anyway we headed off to the American Pavillion as we decided we'd hit the American Adventure and then we planned to hit the big rides that we could before mom and dad had to take off for the Contemporary (they'd packed their clothes in my backpack so that they could change in the restroom before heading out lol).

So along the way of course all the Characters were out, but because of the mood earlier no one really felt up to getting pictures with them... but that didn't stop me from taking pictures of them

Dad spotted the Passporter dude and decided we needed a family picture in front of the American Pavillion. I really enjoyed 'working' with the passporter, he actually noticed when something was embarassing, well some of the time, mainly when we were having clothes malfunctions (stupid bra straps peeking through ) but I liked how they came out. he did family and then seeing as how on and dad were wearing their buttons he got a few shots of the two of them. Which mom hated but oh well lol. Of course we were all tourist in the pictures with the lanyards and junk but at least the backpacks and cameras were out of the shot lol

We went into the Adventure, and of course not only loved it for the air conditioning but because of the patriotic feel. My dad served his country in Vietnam. He was a navy coreman and now he works in the VA clinic in my hometown. He's a medical technician. He's very proud of his service and his country. We're also a very 'religous' family, so when they sang old hymns my parents were just in awe. I love the choir before teh actual show.

During the presentation, however, my dad and brother fell asleep. Not because it was boring but because we were all just so stupidly tired. lol Dad didn't really fall asleep (you know how dad's are, they're snoring but change the channel and they wake right up lol) but Duane was out cold to the point where dad had to really shake him to get him awake enough for dad to try to pick him up and carry him lol. That didn't work so Duane had to wake up then lol. apparently Duane has reached the point where his 'dead weight' is too much to carry lol.

We go to exit the building and a cast member comes over, notices Mom and Dad's buttons and fills out a certificate for them saying they celebrated 25 years of marriage at the American Pavilion and then he asked them if Mickey and Minnie had called them yet. Mom said no so he gets a wireless phone and dials a number and hands it off to them and we go outside so they can hear the message and it was Mickey and Minnie singing Happy Anniversary!

After that dad wanted really badly to ride the big rides... Test Track and Mission Space... and that didn't happen which really annoyed him. I think we should have just taken the rest of the day after the lunch thing and given up and gone back to teh hotel because we were all at each others throats.

Dad and I rarely get into it with each other as I'm extremely loyal to him (at times I'm told it's to a fault, but I don't see it that way). Anyway we had one of our typical blow ups (our family's ethicity = Irish and German... passionately angry temperment is what I'm bred with lol). Dad and I typically hold everything in until it's just too much and then stand back because when we explode we're both blow it completely out of proportion. It's sad I know. It doesn't happen often, though...

Anyway after that mom and Judy took over and said shopping was needed and we headed for Mouse Gears lol I was angry, embarassed, and so upset that I was part of the reason why the stupid trip was falling a part and I just blew through the store trying to find just a spot alone. The more I thought about what had happened the more upset I was. I hate crying but I felt myself losing all strength to hold back so I went running into the changing room. Where I sat and composed myself while a cast member stood on the other side asking if I was ok. Which I didn't need and I was all "I'm fine I just need a moment to myself." Which didn't really work to get the lady to move away from teh door lol

Anyway I guess everyone pretty much just did what I did. We got lost in a store where we could all cool off. And it worked. 20 minutes later dad and I sat down and apologised and then had to suck it up and apologise to everyone else lol. Thankfully this was really the only bad day for dad and I...

Anyway after the tension broke we all got entirely too goofy. Mouse Gears had this HUGE pirate display and with my big obsession of the moment being Pirates... well... it was just a party. We were playing with all the toys and reenacting different scenes... I swooned over "Will" and "Jack" a good number of times. And we drooled over collectors pieces.

I found a poster I liked and the Mickey Ears that I really wanted (we were all in search for our Mickey Ears, which all had to be different to reflect our personalities, for a family photo at the end of the trip). I was still feeling guilty but at least everyone had dropped it so that was a blessing. lol

Anyway my dad got ahold of my ears, and then my aunt got another pair and they decided to have a bit of fun at my expense. But I got them back by taking their pictures. Funny story, I tried to take the first picture and dad ducked, but he forgot my camera has a rapid fire and so when he turned to laugh at me I GOT HIM. It's the perfect picture, one of my favorites of him on the trip. I love my daddy Judy doesn't like her picture at all, hence the glares we have in the photos are because she didn't want a picture lol

Mom and Dad left us soon after (well, after dad found his golf hat that he just had to have for when he went golfing later that week lol) and so Judy, Jillian, Duane, and I were on our own. Which meant SHOPPING! By this time Duane had had enough of Epcot. If we weren't going on rides as far as he was concerned we didn't need to be there but we were going to see Illuminations as it was Judy's favorite light show. So he just had to deal with it.

A Passporter caught us and so the three kids got our picture taken together with Spaceship Earth in the background. Which I just remembered we still have to get printed out in a 5x7 for our grandfather which was the whole reason we had it done lol Duane wanted our pictures in teh flowers but you can do that anywhere so we let him get his own photo in the flowers he posed himself which means he did the traditional pose that I always have him do when we do a session (I'm a freelance photog and mom would rather I do his photos that she sends out than the school photographer because they always color his hair orange and give him green eyes...)

After that we let Duane get himself completely soaked in the sidewalk fountain thingie. But trying to get him out was difficult. He's 12, with social issues as it is, and he knows how to push buttons. Pre-teendom has been eye opening for us lol. It gave me a good opportunity to take pictures, though. So that was fun.

After a bit of pin trading we headed off to the Cantina de San Angelwhere we got to sit down and wait for the fire works. Duane, Jill, and I got sodas and my aunt went and got a churro and one of those frozen margaritas (being 'in charge' of my brother was a bit taxing for her that night. ).

Duane went off supposedly to find a bathroom and he was gone for 45 minutes, the show was getting ready to start and we couldn't find him. It was freaking my aunt out as my brother doesn't know a stranger and let's face it as safe as Disney seems to be, it's not like they do background checks on every guest there. We were just about to get security when he comes back with food from a few countries down... which my aunt had a very hard time with because he used his room key which had something like 1000 dollars on it. He was given strict instructions to not use it without permission, but for whatever reason he thought we would have told him no if he'd asked for food. At least, that was his excuse. So then he got his room key revoked. LOL

It was cool to listen to the Fife and Drums from across the lagoon. I was bummed that we never got to see it this trip, but I've promised myself this next trip with my best friend we're going to take it slow through the World Showcase as the rides don't really appeal to either of us (YES!) I'm not a huge fan of Epcot in general, but it definitely is teh most fun for taking pictures of buildings and fireworks lol

After the show we sat and let the crowds thin out and then we headed for the long way around the lagoon. We were able to just talk and look at all the lights and just how pretty it all was. We talked about what we thought mom and dad were doing, and how much fun we'd had. We didn't talk of the explosiveness of the day, but it was just very relaxing. We were going to Sea World in the morning and we talked about that, and Jillian talked about her plans for the summer and college.

That all bored me so I took random pictures

[center]

We headed back to the buses and got into bed. Just as I was falling asleep mom and dad came back from their dinner and had to tell me all about it. Which I will tell you... in a later post

Coming next - Disney does not do Sparkling Apple Cider...

ETA - forgot to put the links to the album(s) that go with the stories lol
Album 2, page 2 - not sure if that's a direct link to page two, but don't look past the Epcot photos or no soup for you! (photopass photos)
Album 3 - A bit of Animal Kingdom (Tigger) / Water Park / and Epcot / oh and an embarssing picture of how Duane sleeps I'm a horrible big sister.

[Minnie Lor]

Let me just say ~ Gorgeous Illuminations and S.E. photos! Love all the pictures of Duane playing in the water. Sorry that you all had a bad day and that it's still on your mind. I'm sure that everyone understands and chalks it up to how tired you all were. I'm glad that it all worked out in the end and everyone was able to move on and enjoy the day. Looking forward to more!

[Colexis Mom]

Great pictures Toni Sorry there were a few meltdowns, but that's bound to happen when it's hot and everyone's tired Glad you worked it all out!

More please

[Tonichelle]

Sorry, no photos... I didn't get to go to their dinner, and this one should be short as I wasn't there and I have to try and remember what they gushed about.

All I can truly say is the CA Grill went out of their way to make it a very magical evening.

My parents had a reservation at 8, I told them where to go, what to expect, and considering I didn't really have a clue as to what I was talking about I gave them the passporter (which was difficult because if they lost it we were sunk! LOL) and they still were surprised when they took the elevator

mom said "And did you know that if you don't have a reservation, you can't go up in the elevator!" I only told them that a dozen times, but you know I should have told her that 13th time.

Anyway when they got up there they were met and taken to a table that was all decked out in Happy Anniversary bouquets and confetti.

My dad can't have alchohol, and we just don't do that anyway... too many problems with teh stuff in our family, and so when they were asked if they wanted champagne dad asked if they had a sparkling cider. To which he got a very odd look (I didn't even think to mention something like that to the reservation people) and their waiter (who mom is still in love with I think lol) said he wasn't sure but he would go check.

Meanwhile because the fireworks were at ten mom and dad ordered everything seperately (Which they were already prepared for because when I made the reservation the lady I called said she put them early just so they could do that before the fireworks). While they waited they checked out some of the decor and everything.

They took forever to bring out two bottles of Sparkling Cider - which mom is positive they had to drive to the nearest 7-11 to get because it took forever and she swears she saw a catering van come in the parking lot on two wheels and a guy jumped out with the bottles

Anyway after he brings them out and has them try it (they even jokingly asked him what year it was and he gave them a whole spiel about how it's a fine year I think he said June of '07 or something like that lol) they said they'd take both bottles because they felt bad that he had to go in search. Come to find out at the end of the dinner the bottles were 12 bucks each lol... we get the same stuff up here for cheaper (which is a rarity if you think about it because everything is expensive up here lol)!

Mom and dad loved the food (mom priced everything even though we told her money was no object for their dinner that we were paying for it. But leave it to mom to worry about it). And then when the fireworks happened they went out on the 'terrace' and watched from there and apparently got all mushy and kissy face (ewwwww)

After the fireworks and desert they headed to the Magic Kingdom via... boat I think, which they had all to themselves so yeah and then they were off to the Coronado where they went right up to my door and woke me up and told me everything (and since Duane was asleep I was standing outside in my barely Disneyfriendly pjs (ok so they were friendly because I was sharing a room with my brother, but I felt very exposed in my pirate pjs lol

I will hopefully be around to tell our Sea World story tomorrow...

Next - Sea World... Magic, what's that?