The Ducks are Back...A Birthday, An Anniversary and a Grand Gathering - FINAL THOUGHTS, Finally **Updated on 6/4** About This Page:

[Kristen C.]

Yeah! Your TR has started....sorry the Dream Squad didn't get the memo...LOL

[chezp]

Great start - sorry about the delay to the flight, but you've made it!

[dsteiny23]

So Friday, our first full day, was Halloween!! We didn’t get the boys up too early because we had gotten in so late and we were going to run them ragged today and into the night at the MNSSHP. I got up first and got ready. When I woke up I noticed that DH was still in his jeans and shirt that he was wearing on the plane. We had told the front desk that whenever the luggage got there from DME, to just send it to the room no matter the time and he didn’t want to answer the door in his jammies. (Although they were cute and home made ) So, they never showed up and he fell asleep fully clothed. I had called and set a wake up call for the boys for the morning and they slept through the ringing and my “Hey, I wonder who that could be? Who wants to answer the phone??” (Cue the crickets). So, I picked up the phone and got the wake up from Stitch to start the day.

Our plan today was to go to MK for a while in the morning, and being as we were just a monorail ride away, go back and get dressed into our costumes in time for dinner at LTT at 4:15. So, I donned my Birthday pin, and Craig being the amazing DH he is, put on the anniversary t-shirt I made for him and off we went.

First we took some pics walking from our room to the GCH. The grounds here are so beautiful. This was my first time wearing a pin at WDW and right from the start we got congratulations and Happy Birthdays galore!! These pins Rock!!





We got some candy from 2 CMs who stopped in their little resort buggy to take pics of us. Apparently they need to get rid of ALL the candy on Halloween and we would be the recipient of more candy this day than even Willie Wonka could imagine.



We headed to the GCH and took our first of many trips on the “momorail” according to Jason…which of course we called it for the rest of our trip…and over to the MK. Then, we got our first photopass pic outside of the train station



(we pre-ordered and I was going to hit them all up). We paid for our length of stay for the double stroller rental with what could be used to alleviate the debt of a small country, and got moving onto Main Street USA. There is nothing like walking out from under that train station for the first time of the trip. And I’ve never seen Main Street decorated for Halloween and we loved all of the scarecrows and decorations.






We walked around the square and the first character we saw was Daisy. Of course we had to pose with her and tell her what we planned to be for the party. She loved it and jumped up and down and clapped, and of course gave a kiss to my DH “Donald”. And then gave me some pointers for later that night.



Now Jason is afraid of Santa so I wasn’t sure how he would react to all of the characters, but he was amazing!! He jumped up and hugged all of them. (Well, all but 2, but we’ll get to them later.) Maybe it’s all of the Disney I force feed them at home that rubbed off. So, they got their first photo and autograph of many, appropriately enough, from Daisy.



Then after hitting up the Main Street photographers…



My Prince Charming…



…we headed over through Liberty Square and into Fantasyland to our first ride of the trip and Jason’s first Disney ride ever IASW!!



He it (and we rode it another 3 times during the trip). Oh, the things we’ll endure for our children. Here you need to know that for this trip Jason was velcroed to my side. He didn’t want to do anything with anyone except me…at least for now.

We had our first meal at Pinnochio Village Haus. (My boys have allergies and we have to be picky where we eat, but WDW is the best for that.) The pizza was pretty good. Then we headed to Frontierland and to get FPs for SM, all the while Jason is saying “I don’t want to ride Splash Mountain” Me: “Yes you do”…”no I don’t”…”yes you do”…”no I don’t”. “okay, we’ll discuss this later”. Okay, so Jason has never been to Disney before and Craig and I decided we were going to get him to at least “try” everything he was big enough for that we didn’t think would scar him for the rest of his life. (Or at least be easily worked out later in therapy. ) So, after we get our SM FPs, we headed back to Liberty Square…took some pics



(I looked for these everywhere...but apparently they don't sell stocks in the gift shops )

then we all get on line for HM. (dum, dum, dum). Jason got on line…he walked into the foyer…he got into the stretch room…and then it got a little dicey. He climbed right up my side and into my arms and wanted to leave. Well, you know “there are no windows and no doors” and now I feel like the parent that everyone is talking about because he’s starting to cry, just a little. I tried to reason with a terrified 3 year old and you can imagine how well that was going. By the time we finally head to the doom buggy he’s still a little skeptical, but I’ve calmed him down and told him it’s just a ride and he’ll be fine. Well, he surprised me. He didn’t cry, or scream or freak out…and even laughed and waved at the hitch-hiking ghost. But, the first thing he said after it was over was “I don’t wanna go on the Haunted Mansion again, okay?”

Scene of the crime…




And that’s how a lot of rides went from there. He’d walk on, sit through the ride calmly and then tell us he didn’t want to go on again. (BTW, this was our first trip on HM since the rehab and we Loved it.)

So after HM we headed over to Splash Mountain and just started walking onto the ride while the entire time Jason is saying “I don’t want to ride Splash Mountain” “yes you do” “no I don’t” (well, you get the picture) Now this is a ride I am sure he would have enjoyed had we been able to get him on it, but when we get to the boats he is determined to get out of there and I didn’t want to cause a scene there so he and I walk up the stairs and out of my favorite ride in all of WDW. At this point I’m thinking that the first ride we take him on (other than IASW and I don’t imagine many people are afraid of that…driven insane from it maybe …but not afraid) maybe shouldn’t have been HM, now I think he’s a little gun shy. So I go to the FP area and explain how he “chickened out” and she gave me a rider swap. This would be our first of many rider swaps on this trip. At least when waiting for SM there is an adorable play area under the train station where he had a blast and made friends while we waited…



then Craig, Zach and Tyler came off and Craig waited with Jason while Zach, Tyler and I rode SM. So Zach and Tyler made out like bandits on this trip with all the rider swaps.

That’s about all we did that morning/afternoon. We just wanted to get our Disney fix as soon as we could and then we headed back to the Poly to change into our costumes and head out to MNSSHP.

Next up…the Ducks finally make an appearance!!

[Kristen C.]

We had the same issue at first with my DNiece on Splash Mt. she wasn't sure she wanted to ride it.

[MaryEL8775]

Last year in 2007 I was that mother... Only when we got down I had to take DD out the chicken door. She wouldn't even give HM a try. But this year she did it TWICE!!! So I was surprised and shocked in a good way.

[mousestruck]

So happy to be reading your TR! Yes, we can totally relate to the stressful drive to NY. So much so, that we've started flying out of Philly. It's about the same distance as LaGuardia from us, but is an easier drive and we really like the airport. Anyhoo... sounds like your trip is off to a fantastic start! The Poly is so beautiful and definitely on our "wish list." (We're hoping there will be a DVC there some day!) Can't wait to hear about the Halloween party!

[chezp]

What a great start to your day - I love the Photopass pics and what a great seller those stocks would be if they were available in the gift shop!

[scdisneyfan]

I the update!! Your DH's anniversary shirt turned out so great!!
The birthday pin does rock!! told ya so
And i still have candy from the MNSSHP!! They loaded us down as well!!!
All your pictures turned out amazing...my two fav are you with Daisy and you and your husband proposing!! Your boys are so cute especially jason....I'll see him in counseling one day for having to ride HM When i saw that title pic of HM "Scene of the crime" i was rolling!
I cannot wait to see your pics of your costumes!!! Hurry back!!!

[Colexis Mom]

What a great day!! Love all the pictures!! More please

[nursemom]

Yay! An update.! Loving all the Poly pix! You have a beautiful famly. Hurry back with more~

[DyanKJ130]

What a wonderful day!! Your photos are great! Looking forward to more

[dsteiny23]

Originally Posted by Kristen C.

We had the same issue at first with my DNiece on Splash Mt. she wasn't sure she wanted to ride it.

I can't believe we got him to walk onto some darker rides and not Splash Mountain. But, maybe there's hope for next year.

Originally Posted by MaryEL8775

Last year in 2007 I was that mother... Only when we got down I had to take DD out the chicken door. She wouldn't even give HM a try. But this year she did it TWICE!!! So I was surprised and shocked in a good way.

So glad that I'm not the only "that mother". We "that mothers" need to stick together. It's just tough when you know that if you could just get them on, they would like it.

Originally Posted by mousestruck

So happy to be reading your TR! Yes, we can totally relate to the stressful drive to NY. So much so, that we've started flying out of Philly. It's about the same distance as LaGuardia from us, but is an easier drive and we really like the airport. Anyhoo... sounds like your trip is off to a fantastic start! The Poly is so beautiful and definitely on our "wish list." (We're hoping there will be a DVC there some day!) Can't wait to hear about the Halloween party!

I think next year we're going to try Philly. As you know, during Jersey Week in order to fly out of Newark because the fares are so high, you've got to pull straws to see which of your kids has to stay home. And my DH and I are seriously going to consider DVC being as we've already planned again for next year and probably will for the following year.

Originally Posted by chezp

What a great start to your day - I love the Photopass pics and what a great seller those stocks would be if they were available in the gift shop!

Sure...just cut the holes into mickey shapes and those babies would sell like hotcakes!!

Originally Posted by scdisneyfan

I the update!! Your DH's anniversary shirt turned out so great!!
The birthday pin does rock!! told ya so
And i still have candy from the MNSSHP!! They loaded us down as well!!!
All your pictures turned out amazing...my two fav are you with Daisy and you and your husband proposing!! Your boys are so cute especially jason....I'll see him in counseling one day for having to ride HM When i saw that title pic of HM "Scene of the crime" i was rolling!
I cannot wait to see your pics of your costumes!!! Hurry back!!!

Yeah, he's a trooper. What a guy to wear the shirt, the pin and wait till you see the costume he wore. I think I'll keep him. Plus, he loves Disney. Bonus!!

You were totally right about the pin!! I thought about wearing the b-day pin when I got home cause I was missin' all the b-day love. Cold turkey when I hit the tarmac in NY.

Yeah, I think you may be seeing Jason for a number of reasons.

Costumes are next

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

What a great day!! Love all the pictures!! More please

We had a blast...and that was only the first half!!

Originally Posted by nursemom

Yay! An update.! Loving all the Poly pix! You have a beautiful famly. Hurry back with more~

We LOVED the Poly. And thank you...I happen to think they're pretty cute too...of course I might be a just a bit biased.

Originally Posted by DyanKJ130

What a wonderful day!! Your photos are great! Looking forward to more

Thanks...up next...cosutmes!!

[MaryEL8775]

But it didn't help that she was mis-behaving and I told her that this is where all the bad kids go... (insert evil mommy grin here) But she got over it this year and was much better. She rode it during the day first then during the night when it was dark...

[KMB733]

Great Update! the pictures. Hurry back with more.

[dsteiny23]

Originally Posted by MaryEL8775

But it didn't help that she was mis-behaving and I told her that this is where all the bad kids go... (insert evil mommy grin here) But she got over it this year and was much better. She rode it during the day first then during the night when it was dark...

Ooooh! "That mother" AND scary threats about the HM...you're my idol . I just wanted to get my hands on some of those Liberty Square stocks!