Ben & Aunt Deb go to WDW or "Its finally Ben's Turn About This Page:

[coffeechef]

Who Went :
Aunt Deb(44yrs) 7th DIsney trip, A big Kid in love with anything Disney
Ben (8 1/2 yrs) 1st trip to Disney had to wait his turn behind to older brothers
August 14th - 20th @ the AllStar Sports

One week before trip I go to have my Hair cut & (ahem)colored. While I am there, the tooth that has been bothering me off & on really starts to bother me. This has happened on occasion & of decides to do so now. I stop at the Dentist Offic 4:00pm & they tell me I have a infection & will lose the tooth (but not today) the earliest they can get me in is Thursday (5days before we leave) So with Antibiotics in hand I go home.
The next day I am heading home from work in my 3 month old Car & the Engine light comes on.I call the dealership the next day they can see me in the Afternoon. SO I leave work twice that day once for my tooth & once to bring my car in. They give me a loaner because my timing belt has slipped due to some part that needed to be replaced. They loan me a brand new car til the part they need come in, I did not get my car back til after the Trip. And the Pulled tooth healed nicely & I was ready to leave for Disney.
The Day before we leave:
I have the day off & have to make my plane reservations for a trip to Atlanta 5 days after I return from Disney.
It has been tradition that the Disneyboy sleeps over night at my House & his Family comes & picks us up Early the next Morning to bring us to the Airport. So I pick Ben up & we begin the traditions of leaving for Disney. He tells me that he never thought he would get to go.Waiting 2 years for his turn was tough for a kid who is as impulsive as he is. First tradition is I give him a waistpack, A DIsney Journal, Fat Markers for Autographs. He knows this is coming because his 2 brothers have told him all this. He also wants to know if I am going to take his Picture while he is asleep on my Sofa.
Its early to bed Monday Night as we need to leave for the Airport by 5am. Our plane leaves at 7 am. I get up, sneak into the Livingroom and take a photo of him sleeping. He will question me on this later in the week worried that I did not take it because he did not see me do it. Mom,Dad & brothers show up as planned & off we go to the Airport. We check in & wait for the time to get on the Plane. This is Ben's First Plane ride & he is Excited. Last year his brother Sam & I flew USAir & the Pilot invited him to sit in the COckpit after the FLight. He got to wear the PIlots Hat & "FLY" the plane. SO Ben Assumes that the same will hapen for him. But we are flying Delta,When we mention it is his first plane ride they let him go to the Cockpit for a Photo. (They were nice, but USAIR gave a flight Certificate) But Ben is happy he stood in the Cockpit & got his photo taken.
Ben takes the window seat & i get the middle seat. The man sitting next to me lives in Ct.with his Family,but also has a 2nd home in Celebration,FL. He is very patient about having to get up twice to let Ben out to use the Bathroom. Not so the man in front of Ben who gets upset because he thinks Ben was kicking his Seat. Actually he was bouncing a Splash ball on the back of his seat til I made him out it away. We get our "Snack" & drink. Ben thinks this really cool & eats most of mine , he also chows down on some "Spongebob Squarepants" Cheesits. Finally we land, we get our Luggage & wait for Mears Bus. The Bus is Full by the time we leave the Airport & we have a great Bus Driver who has a co-pilot on his Windshield , a stuffed "POOH" He starts asking trivia questions & the Winners get a Official Only one of its Kind Mears Air Conditioner. (they are those hand fans that open & CLose) Well we are all going to AllStars , so Sports is the first stop.
We head inside and I get in line . We are really here. We get a great CM & I request a room in Surfs Up, we get one close o the Elevator & Ice MAchine, but not in the COurtyard which was good because the pool area was noisy. We are close to the Bus & Food Court & thats what matters. SO we leave our Luggage to be delivered & head out to Downtown Disney to begin our Adventure.
More later as I am tired & losing focus
[img]images/icons/blush.gif[/img]

[bfth]

What a great aunt you are! Can't wait till I get to read the rest!

[April1976]

What a nice auntie. My 15 year old brother-in-law...who is more like a nephew or son (I'm 33) is desperate to go to WDW. He spent the entire summer with us (he lives in Oregon, we live in Massachusetts) and is bummed that we are NOW going to Disney. To add insult to injury...we invited his mom (grammy to our 14 month old) to come with us...so now Tyler thinks he'll never get to go. We DO plan to take him...probably next summer when we go again (provided I am not having baby #2 at that point!)

I was 8 on my first trip to Disney and I still recall it vividly. Of course we have the old silent home movies that help refresh what I think I remember. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

So nice that you have a whole tradition thing going complete with ritualistic couch-sleeping photos and fat markers. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[coffeechef]

Aunt Deb-(Crazy about Disney)
Ben -8 1/2 yrs ( First time at DIsney
AUgust 14th - 20th

Day 1- Part 2
After leaving our Luggage to be delivered to our not quite ready room. We head out to wait for the Bus to take us to the Marketplace. Its about 11:45am & we get on the Bus loaded with most people going to Typhonn Lagoon. I notice that DIsney has purchased some New Buses, they have wider doors but do not seem to have as many seats. We are one of the first on the bus & get a seat, by the time it gets down to ASM the bus is pretty well packed. I have an engaging conversation with a little girl about 7 or 8 She is telling me about what she has done at Disney & as I asked questions about her favorites , she continues to give me advice and tell me about the things she has seen. Everyone around us seems to be enjoying this as she was quite the talker. Ben takes a picture of her, when I question him about it later (ok teased him about it, he give me the .... No I don't like girls story) We arrive at MP & head for the shooting FOuntains, Ben plays in this for a few Minutes & we head for the Rainforest cafe for Lunch. We are seated right away in the Gorilla Room. I love this Restaraunt. I love the Theming. WE order the specaility frozen Drinks. I like mine , but Ben had gotten a frozen Lemonade & it was a bit too tart for him. He drinks about half of it. Ben gets the Mini Hotdogs, which he just loves & keeps looking for the rest of the trip. I get a Chicken Char broil Sandwich that was very good. WE look arounfd the store for a while , I take pictures of Ben around different scenery in the store, including a Giant Stuffed Animal(some kind of Monkey) When I get the pictures back, it looks like a character. WE go over to Lego land & to look at the FOuntain woth the Mickey Topiary with Mickey poring over a Pot of Water into other pots. Its one of my favorites. We go to Ghiradelli for Ice Cream Yum Thwn into the WOrld of Disney for our first spending spree. Ben knows he has to buy Souvineers for his brothers, Mom & DAd. He finds a MM Necklace for his Mom. He knows his Dad wants a new MIckey drink Cup. He buys himself a Watch & his Auto graph Book. He is surprised that he has to spend his Money for his watch. I explain to him that his brothers did. I will buy him his Tshirts & a few ither things,but that he need to think about what he really wants before he starts asking for everything. This helps to cure the " Can I Haves" By now I knkow Our room will be ready , so we head back to the Allstar Sports. We are in room 6343 in Surfs Up. After unpacking we head to teh food Court to get our ALl you can drink Cups. WE both get the Slim line models which I will like for the Car. Then its off to EPCOT to ride Test TRack. WE wait for the bus to come and it come in a short time. WE are no sooner in the Bus & Ben has to go to the BAthroom. This will be a bit of an Issue through out our whole trip. According to my Sister the Doctor says he has a small bladder that takes it time catching up to him as he grows. This Kid has to go to the bathroom alot. He can't get to a Bathroom quick enough at Epcot. yes he had gone before he left our room. SO after finding a Rest Room outside the Park we head for TT. But TT has a 21/2 hours wait & no FP left. So we head to the COoling Staion & a few other things. WE go to Honey I Shrunk the AUdience. I have never bennon this ride because it was broken down 2 yrs ago & last year I forgot about it. WE get into the next show & get seated in the middle of the Aisle. ABout half way thru the show, Ben tells me has to go to the Bathroom again. I tell we will go as soon as this is over, he says he can't wait. I have to admit I am not very happy to have to get up a disturb the people we have to walk in front of to get out of there. He had just been to the Bathroom not more that 20 minutes earlier. But we get past this & got in line to see HISTA again. SO Now I realise that almost everything we do will involve a Bathroom Break before we can do it. We have one more episode in AK , when we get into ITTBAB inside the tree waiting for the show & he does this again. Anyway moving beyond the Peeing Problem. We make it through HISTA & head over to Jouney into your Imagination. I had never been on this before & Honestly probably never will again. I found it really boring. Ben liked it ,but I think he just like riding in the Moving cars. AT this point its time ti head back to the Hotel to go Swimming & rest up for a day at MGM on Wednesday.

[bouncybounce]

When are we going to get more?? You can probably add notes to the Happiest potties on earth site [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Sounds like fun though, if a little stop and start. I empathize though, I'm always in need of a quick potty stop! Maybe they should see if he might have diabetes though? hmm, I'm in no way a doctor... but just a thought.

[ 09-14-2001: Message edited by: bouncybounce ]

[HiddenMickey]

Hey coffeechef!------We NEED more! What happens next? [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] -HiddenMickey

[wdwlovers]

yeah, wheres the rest! J/K You sound like a great auntie to share WDW with those boys! They must feel so special! Can't wait to hear more about Ben's first trip! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[coffeechef]

Day 2 --- @ MGM STudios or "Lets do that Again" with Aunt Deb(44) & Ben (8)

I am up at 6:15am to get ready for todays adventure to MGM. I wake Ben up a half hour later & soon we are on our way. We arrive at the Park at 7:30am And get in line for Rock n Roller Coaster. I am so excited because I finally have a kid with me who wants to ride these Attractions. WE get a seat in the middle of the Coaster because I did not realize they kind of let you decide on your row. But thats OK . Off we go & It is jsut great, That has got to be one of the smoothest rides & now we have to do the thumbs together "ssssttttt" thing that we see in the pre show. We get off this ride and Ben yells out the Phrase that will be repeated over & over through out the week. "LETS DO THAT AGAIN" SO we get right back in line again & this time take a front seat. We have fastpasses for TOT & get into line for that. Now I am thinking this ride & its Theme leading up to the ride will scare the pants off him and if it does there is not much I can do til the ride is finished. But NOpe ...not this Kid. He is the exact opposite of his Twin, who could barely look at TOT, never mind think of getting on it. But Ben loves this ride. I had forgotten parts of this & honstly was a bit nervous myself.I loved Twilight Zone & many of the stories used to scare me. But I love it too. It is so well done. We buy the T shirts for ourselves & I get one for his older Brother Alex who wishes he had the courage to ride it & can pretend to his friends that he did.( while getting dressed last Wednesday I pulled my t-shirt from the Laundry basket & realize that this shirt can not be worn for a while, as I feel it is not appropriate. I have this converation with my 11 yr old Nephew on Saturday & to my surprise he agreed & said he had not been wearing his either)
But back to Disney. We also get the Picture of us on this & Ben looks concerned, but I think it was just the first drop, he really liked the rest. So its time for us to do other rides, we head over to the GMR. I just love this Attraction. I am bummed by the COnstuction going on in front, but the hat does not bother me too much, though I would like it better in front of the Entrance to MGM. WE try to get to Little Mermaid ,but the timing is not there for us as we have ps at Hollywood & Vine. We have to start getting Autographs before I start hearing about it. H&V was great, we met with Pooh, Tigger, piglet & Eeyore. The food & Service was very good. and they have very nice Bathrooms. SO after our late time Breakfast/Brunch, we head over to TOT again to use our fastpass. SO on this we go again. I am really enjoying this now , Ben can't decide if this or RnR is his favorite. after this ride we decide to head back to the Hotel for a Swim & a Nap. We get back to the Hotel & get into our swimsuits.Get into the Water & 10 minutes later we are out because of a Thunder storm coming. We diecide to wlak arounfd the Hotel & check out the other areas of Sports.Then head back to the room for naptime. I am laying on my Bed & can feel the sensation of the ToT drops. what a weird feeling. After a qick nap the pool was open aain & we wnet for a quick swim. Then back to change & then heaad back to MGM. We had Ps for Scifi Diner & plans for the late show of Fantasmic. We checked out FP options for TOT & RNR & as we were heading down the Boulevard we ran into CiCi a character actress/comedian. Ben gets her autograph & the next thing we know we are watching a Comedy Skit about who shaved the HAirdressers dog. One of the four actors uses
me as his Alibi for why he could not have shaved the dog saying "He was having Lunch at his Mama's House" He comes over & puts his arm around me, which brings laughter from the Crowd & totally throws Ben for a loop. Since "my Son" Mel Rose was my age & we were not of the same Race. So noew I have to come up with what we had for Lunch & tell everyone that MY Son could not have done it because he wsa visiting his MAMA. One of the other Actors does what he does & picks someone from tha crowd to be her Sister. So Now we are all in this show. I am Video tal=ping the whole time, watching it thru the screen instead of the View finder & now realize that I am on all these other peoples Videos. OHNO [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]
After this we meet with C.C. & Mel for Pictures & Autographs. I introduce Ben who keeps saying you're not his Mom. It was a lot of fun. We head for Backstage Tour & to the Muppets. Ben love both shows & we do Muppets again. Then it time for SCi Fi. We get seated almost right away. I havbe Prime Rib, Ben goes for the HotDog. We both have Chocolate Shakes. I love this Place because of the Nostalgi of the Drive in. We still have one in our area. After Dinner we are able to get into Great Movie Ride again. ben really like this & he knows the Video with his Brother telling me " I Know Aunt Deb, you said that before" When I say that this is one of my favorites. I really like the Gangster scene better & always hope that is the one we will get.
By now its getting late & we head over to Fantasmic, even the 2nd show is going to be a sellout. We get decent seats & get ready to enjoy the SHow. I knew this one would blow Ben Away. He gives me a hug & says thank you for Bringing me here. I taped it last year, so this year I just sit & enjoy it. I can't get over how wonderful it is. I always wonder about who thought this up & what it was like sitting around the table discussing how to do this. Its takes some time for the Crowd to get out & we head for a Bus Home. ben falls asleep on the Bus & falls into his Bed we get back to the Hotel. TOmorrow is Magic Kingdom Day.

[HiddenMickey]

Yea! More report. Thanks. So great that you got to do the "scary" rides this time. Can't wait to see what he thinks of MK! -HiddenMickey

[coffeechef]

Day 3 @ Magic Kingdom & Blizzard Beach

I am up again at 6:15 to get showered & dressed. I wake up Ben & whead over to the FoodCourt for Coffee, Cocoa & Donuts. WE have a short wait for the Bus & Are at the Magic Kingdom for the Openng Countdown. As we are getting into line towait for the opening a man standing in another line passses out ( I think from the Heat) CM come from everywhere after some people holler that help is needed. He is evetually transported out by Ambulance. A few minutes later the TIcket GAtes open & we are on our way down MAin Street. We stop to have our Picture taken in front of the Casstle, then head to Tomorrowland. We go on Buzz Lightyear first & ride this twice. On the second ride I somehow manage to score 999,999 (I think). I look at my score & it has hit that number. Now my first thought is that my Laser broke, But I ahve decided to think instead tha I scored the top amount of points a person can score. I just don't know how it happened. After Buzz We ride on Space Mountain, I have not been on this for Years & the Rocket style has changed. WHen its our turn to line up for Rocket Seat assignment< ben asks me to switch places with him. When the Rocket in front of us pulls away I find myself sittnig in the front Rocket Seat(the Little S***) Of COurse Ben love this ride & he wants to ride again. By some Luck we score a Fasspass from someone who has an extra to give away & the CM writes good for 2 people on it , so that we can both go right away. SO after a ride on SM again & our 3rd Bathroom break of the Morning, we head for Tommorrowland Speedway. Ben has been waitng to go on this because his brothers both love this ride. I on the other hand find this ride not worth even a 5 minute wait in my opinion. SO in line we get for a half hour wait in the Hot Sun. Because I take into account that if I were 8 yrs old I would probably find this ride thrilling & fun too. In line behind us is an Older COuple who are with out Children & I wonder what could possibly make them want to ride this except to say that they went on everything. Finally its our turn & we get in our Car. Ben can actually reach the gas pedal, which makes me believe that they may have redesigned the Pedal. he is the shortest of the 3 & the other 2 had difficulty with the GAs Pedal so that has always been my part of the ride. I also video tape them on this ride as we go around the Track. Through out I add the Color Commentary aboout their Driving Skills, comparing them to their Mom & Dad, their Grandfather & Myself. They love this & get a kick out of it when they watch the Video tapes later.
After getting off this Attraction e head over to Fantasylane & Teacups have no wait so we get on these. Then it over to My all time favorite: Splash Mountain. After riding this, Ben now loves this too. we check out Thunder Mountain, but the line is too long & the FP falls into the time frame when we will be at Crystal Palace. So we head over to ride Pirates of the Carribean. Coming out of Pirates we run into Captain Hook & his First mate. Then in front of Pirates is Peter Pan. He is a really realistic Face Character & even as I look at the Picture I took of Peter & Ben I wonder if he really is played by a 12 yr old boy. When i mentionr=ed to Peter pan that Capt Hook was around teh Corner, he said he knew that because he was bored standing with them so he decided to walk around instead.
The new Alladin ride was only a 5 minute wait, so we rode that. I really like it thought it is not very long, but it is fun. Then it was time for our Breakfast with Pooh & the Gang. As always the Breakfast was good & the Characters Fun. We met Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore & Pooh. AFter Crystal Palace we went back to Alladin which was only 10 minutes wait. Then we went into the Tikibirds show. WE had a FP for Jungle Cruise. I have not been in this ride in a long time. ALex did not want to ride when we went & It was in rehab last year with Sam. THen we headed over to the Haunted Mansion & went on this twice. Ben loved this ride by comparison to his brothers. ALex did not care for it, he was a bit scared by it. Sam was so scared on this ride he had buried himself under my Arm & was close to tears when we got off this ride. But Ben had no problem with this one and so we rode it again. When we got out , we were getting a good size Thunder Storm, so we put on our yellow Mickey Rainstoppers & headed for the Bus. We stopped first to pick up our Photo taken earlier in the day & we saw Dopey, Donald & the Govenor from Pochantas ( I think) We get their Autographs. This is a good place & never very crowded to meet characters. LASt Year we met 5 of the 7 Dwarfs there. We head for the Bus now & with a short wait we get back to the Hotel to change into our Swimsuits & head for Blizzard Beach> I figure it will be not so crowded there after the Storm & it is after 3pm. We arrive at BB & get a Locker. Then we go staight to the Lazy River to ride oround on the tubes. Then we go on the DownHill Racers Slopes a couple times. We go into Meltaway Bay for a while. Then we get in line for the Ski Lift, after having to lose our place in line for a Bathroom break we finally get our turn to ride to the top. We ride on TeamBoat Springs which was a long ride & loads of Fun. After that we went over to Junior Ski PAtrol where Ben walked on the Ice floats & rode this ride that you hold on to & when it hits the end you get knocked into letting go & fall in the Water. (sorry folks, you gotta be under 54" to do this one) That one was fun to watch as some kids don't let go right away & end up getting flipped. Its kind of fun watching the acrobatics. WE have some cookies & Ice cream & Soda for a snack, then change into dry clothes & go back to our Hotel. WE have Dinner at theFOod COurt, then back t the room to write POstcards & go to bed early. Tomorrow the plan is Epcot so we can go on Test Track. Then we will come back for a nap, so we can stay up late for E night.