Joan's Big Trip Surprise - updated 7/21 with both Parts I and II About This Page:

[DrDolphin]

Hurry back!!!

[kimdisneynut]

More please, pretty please

Kim

[TinkMulanMickeysMom]

OMG JOAN!!

I cried in the beginning (when Camille saw Marco). Then I laughed, then I cried laughing. My DH had to come over to see what my problem was!!

I remember that Tiki!!! Some detail huh?! My kids got a kick out of it too!!

[OffKilter_Lynn]

[img]http://smileys.*************.com/cat/4/4_17_11.gif[/img] ala Wayne's World... "we are not worthy!"

Joan, my dear, you are just too funny for words. I knew there was a reason I liked you so much - I think we share the same humor gene!

This TR has the hallmarks of a classic epic - I laughed; I cried; I laughed so hard I cried... way too funny!

Your descriptions are just dead-on hysterical and you've inspired me to new levels of writing. My favorites thus far...

[ QUOTE ]
...and got a towel from the hunka hunka burning love Cabana Man (new term for CM). Olay Olay, Olay Olay, Hot, Hot Hot, sing with me now

[/ QUOTE ] When we were at the GF, we were seriously looking for some cute cabana boys so it's good to know I'll find some on the cruise!

[ QUOTE ]
Suzy and Perla were hitting on Pat. I tossed them out on their tails.

[/ QUOTE ] - What a woman!

[ QUOTE ]
He does not have the power of my Evil Eye.

[/ QUOTE ]

Followed by the even better...
[ QUOTE ]
My Evil Eye was tired and my arms didn’t quite reach to the very back of the minivan (my father must be rolling in his grave, HIS arm would have reached back there!)


[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
Rachel thinks they are ugly, so I especially wear them just for her

[/ QUOTE ] You go, Mom!

[ QUOTE ]
Pat found me later and we did several trips around, holding hands, talking about how much fun our trip has been.

[/ QUOTE ] Awww!

[ QUOTE ]
But they are men, and they have supplies and they have a few tools.

[/ QUOTE ] Girl - you need to make this one into a T-shirt!!

But the absolute BEST ONE...

[ QUOTE ]
"Mom, how'd you get so funny?" And my reply was "I became a mother". Life's too short not to look at it on the funny side.

[/ QUOTE ] True words to live by, Joan. Excellent report!

[JoanW]

I promise, I promise to finish writing. We've had family in for the wedding this past weekend and I've been taking them to the pool all afternoon and then feeding them. I just picked up pictures from another undewater camera, so I need to shrink and post those too.

[luv2sail]

Hurry back Joan. I'm really enjoying your report and I keep checking back every day for more!

[simbarel]

Polo!!

What a pranksta. I am all caught up with extra time on my hands...WHERE ARE YOU????????????????????????????????? You must post, this is a really fun read.

[Cheriemek]

What great family memories you have created for the whole group of you! I am really enjoying your report.

[rieandmatt]

Hurry Back Joan!!! I am REALLY enjoying this trip report!!! Can't wait to read more!!

[Cam22]

You have the absolute best sense of humor! I'm loving reading your report! More please!!!!!

[dsnytina]

Joan:
Okay! Me, too!
I am getting a huge fix from your TR!
Please post more - BTW, I'm on Day Two of Ten! You're ahead by a few days, but if you don't come back, I'll win!
Tina - your friend from the cruise boards.

[Cinderbrella]

More please!!

[JoanW]

Thursday June 16, There’s a Cool Breeze Coming Through The Front and It’s Fantasmic!

We slept in a little; I woke up at 8:00 am. I remembered to shut the bathroom door, and I had a wonderful king size sleep. I got up and had another turkey and Squeeze Cheese wrap and a jumbo cup of coffee. Marco got up, had a jumbo bowl of cereal, and started playing Stuntman on the PS2. Slowly everyone started getting up in stages and I made the statement that I wanted to be out the door by 10:30 am. I also made the statement that today we were going to talk in the 3rd person, just for fun. Meaning, you can’t say “I or me”, you have to say your name. Oh we have many games we play!!! I won’t write in this manner, but know that I will play to the finish. It is the first of many games we play with each other.

I had a quick swim in the pool, showered with my Coconut Lime Verbena foo and got dressed. I found special Blister Band-Aids in the master bathroom cabinet and put them on the big honkin blisters. They seem to protect them real well. Everyone gets ready and we are out the door by 11:30. Not the 10:30 I asked for, but within an hour is not bad. Tonight is a later night, as we have the Fantasmic Dinner package for the 9:00 show, with dinner at 4:00 at Hollywood and Vine. I kept the early dinner so we could do stuff after dinner before the show. No Chinese Fire drill was needed today, we are concentrating on talking in the third person too much. We are fully loaded with our hydration packs, misty mates, and sunscreen. It’s going to be another scorcher!

Our first stop is the Fun Tram Ride (all our tram rides were fun, we consider them a part of the Disney Experience and depending on the driver, can be a thrill ride in itself). After we get into MGM, we head immediately over Rockin Roller coaster. Pat takes the passes and gets us Tower of Terror Fastpasses. Rachel would not go on this last year, but this year opted to try it out. Rocking Roller coaster has a long line, and we wait for almost an hour. But we are misting and drinking water and are in the shade pretty quickly. We have to divide into three groups of two, and Marco and Camille buddy up, Grace and Rachel buddy up and Neil and I buddy up. Pat is not feeling up to rides. He’s not been enjoying the heat at all, if anyone could really.

At this point I must digress and share a story about my family and the history behind a statement that we make, no matter where we are. Once you know this story, you too will make that statement, and keep my dad’s memory alive. When we were growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, my dad had central air installed in our house in Maryland. We lived right outside of Washington, DC, and summers here can be hot and humid, high in the 80’s and 90’s. My mom, frugal as ever, would turn off the a/c in July and August and make the statement, “There’s a cool breeze coming through the front, we don’t need the A/C on”. My brothers and sister and I would groan and hide out in the basement in tank tops and shorts, watching Star Trek, Lost in Space, Speed Racer and old movies. My dad would come home from work, walk in the house, roll his eyes, grab a cold one, and go sit in his car with the a/c on and listen to the radio. Mom would get mad and finally put it on when the house reached 85 inside. Then dad would come inside, and he and I would laugh with each other and say, “oh yeah, there’s a cool breeze coming through the front!” My friends from high school and college all knew about my dad sitting in his car waiting for a cool breeze. So now when any of us feel a cool breeze when it’s hot outside we have to say out loud, “Look, there’s a cool breeze coming through the front!” My siblings and I pinky promised each other we’d put it on mom’s tombstone when the time comes. You think I’m kidding?

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed RNR and screamed like little girls.



We hit the gift shop and got the official photos. Rachel bought new drumsticks for school band. They glow when they are struck. I made her promise not to drum in the car. We headed over to Tower of Terror and walked right in. We have not seen any Fastpass lines with a wait of over a minute. We get into our positions and wait for the elevator door to open. I have to say the themeing while you wait is so cool. I feel at home with the dust accumulation.



We decide to schlep over to see Star Tours. While we are heading over, Neil spies Winnie the Pooh. One of his trip goals was to get a photo with Pooh. So we wait under the big hat in the shade. Grace sees Mickey and waits in his line. I asked Marco if he wanted his photo taken with Winnie, and he said he found it odd that a 26-year-old man needed to have his photo taken with a large stuffed animal, stuffed with a human no less. So he waited in the shade with Pat. They both mentioned they felt a Cool Breeze Coming Through the Front. So far I’ve suppressed the urge to have my picture taken with large stuffed animals too. Maybe I just haven’t found my favorite one yet.



Star Tours had no line. I love this ride. It never ages for me and I feel like its 1977 again.

Neil was on a search for the Talking Yoda, but they did not have one. He and Camille thought about the photo where they insert your face into the Star Wars characters, but it was so expensive. While we are in the gift shop, I see a family in there and I recognized them from their photo on the boards. It’s Cam22 and her family from Kentucky. Luckily, she had on an orange shirt just like her old Passporter signature photo, so she was really easy to spot! We talked about the crowds and the heat and what we’ve done and what we have not done yet. So I met another of my goals, finding a Passporter in the park!

We missed the last show of the Indiana Jones stunt show, but decide to start walking towards Hollywood and Vine. We have a 4:00 dinner reservation, but decide to check in early. It’s 3:30 when we get there, and we just have to wait 30 minutes. I got the kids frozen Cokes to tide them over till dinner.

I have to say at this point I was looking wilted. There was No Cool Breeze Coming Through the Front at 3:30, and I was not feeling fresh. I was just hoping my deodorant was working overtime. At 4:00 we are the first family called. And Joan was starving!




I have to say that I now love Hollywood and Vine. This was our first time eating here. When I made the reservation 90 days ago, it was for when the restaurant opened for dinner. I worried it would be too early, but that time worked out great for us. The buffet was awesome. They have delicious mashed potatoes. The salad area was good too. The Beef Boys found many things to choose from. Marj was our waitress and she was wonderful. I mentioned my DDE card, but also mentioned I knew the Fantasmic Package was not included, but she said not to worry, she’d give it to us anyway!


Rachel and Grace made huge ice cream sundaes, but Rachel’s melted and she drank it with a straw.

I ate so many mashed potatoes, I could not eat dessert. I was thankful I had on elastic waistband shorts. Marco ate his usual mousse things, with a side sundae.

We stopped off in the restrooms so I could “refresh” myself. I wiped my arms and neck with cold, wet paper towels, brushed my hair and washed my face. I’m now nourished and fresh, ready for the next few hours of heat. The restrooms at Hollywood and Vine share the same ones with Prime Time Café, so we got to look around. I made a Note to Self: Must try that next time, it looks like a lot of fun. Camille and Neil really liked the looks of it too. I’m still trying to convince Camille and Neil that they should hunnymoon at Disney. The Bride Ears have power, so Rachael (Simbarel) has told me!

We take a jumbo walk through MGM, and dark clouds start moving in, with strong wind. We decide to take cover near the Honey I Shrunk the Kids area, and take photos of the fun stuff. I love the floor in there, it feels so weird.




Finally it’s time to line up for the Lights, Motors, Action Stunt Show. They kept announcing it may be cancelled due to rain, but I said we weren’t frightened by a little stinkin rain! Let the show go on! All the Fastpass people walked right in and the rest of us waited in line. It was not a bad line, but I kept misting myself while we waited, and some nasty woman complained that she was getting soaked from my mist residue. I just wanted to say at least it wasn’t sweat! There was no Cool Breeze Coming Through the Front when we were in line underneath the stadium. We finally made it to the seats and waited for the show to begin. At least we were in a shady portion now.

The Beef Boys really loved the stunt show. Fast cars, stunts, flames, jet skis, falling bodies, funny cars, what more could they ask for??? Perhaps a little Three Stooges would have rounded it out.

We left the show and started heading over to Fantasmic. We’ve never seen this show we were all pretty excited to try it out. We handed over our pass that we got at dinner and walked into the reserved area. We were parched and sent Pat up to get us exorbitantly priced Diet Cokes. There was someone there to get the crowd going, so we did the Wave many times. Regular Wave, Fast Wave, Slo-mo Wave, we did it all, and with enthusiasm. The show began and we quieted down, in awe. We want to know who thought of showing films through a spray of water. Give that guy a raise! So cool! As soon as the show ends, I whistle through my fingers really loud. Marco and Neil are impressed with my whistling skills. Oooh. Ahhh. I demonstrated several of my whistling techniques and sounds. Pat can’t even whistle like I do. I’ve been to lots of Orioles games. We gather trash as we head out and made our way to the front of the park. Bathroom breaks all around!

We took the Fun Tram Ride over to the car and had some snacks from the cooler. We started playing games (church camp games) in the car, one which includes everyone picks their favorite vegetable, except we changed it to pick your favorite food or restaurant you’ve had so far on the Big Trip. Then after you announce your favorite, you must hold your lips over your teeth and cannot talk with your tongue or teeth touching your lips. Marco chose Room Service Manicotti (from the cruise), which become Woo Serwice Annicotti. Mine was Hollywood and Vine, which became Hoiwoo a Wine. Neil picked Pineappple and Caramel Sauce, Camille picked Ohana, Rachel picked Parrot Cay (cruise), and Grace picked Boma. They cheated and picked easy ones. You have to say your choice twice, and call out someone else’s favorite. Then that person says theirs twice and calls out someone else’s, all with their lips over their teeth and no tongue or teeth touching their lips. Okay, as I write this, it doesn’t sound as funny as it is, but perhaps it was the heat. Perhaps it was the sheer exhaustion. Perhaps it was the strained muscles in our faces from trying not to let our lips slide off our teeth. We were laughing till we cried. Pat took a wrong turn and we drove around for a while. We found the Classic Rock station on the radio again and sang out loud. Really loud. Rachel played her glow drumsticks. I let it slide that time. Just don't be annoying tomorrow.

We arrived home and the kids went swimming. And then they played Stuntman, but with more gusto after seeing the Lights Action Motor Stunt show. I removed my Band Aids, took a shower and went to bed. I didn’t care if I woke up with shower hair. At least the bed frame was holding it’s own. I may have snored that night. Exhaustion does that to me.

[TinkMulanMickeysMom]

AWESOME UPDATE!! (Oh forgive me!) AW um uh ate!!

[chezp]

Joan, I’ve just caught up again with your report – it’s so much fun! I love the bit about your mom and the air conditioning!

I’m a bit stunned by Marco’s comment about Pooh though! I nearly choked on my breakfast reading that!