Ohana Means Family (Vacation) - COMPLETE REPORT!! About This Page:

[DawnDenise]

Love the update!!! That picture is classic!!! More please!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[SHEANA1226]

Love the update!! More please!

[krisk11]

Love the updates. I don't think your evil for keeping the picture to show Danny's future girlfriends because I have a picture of my nephew on a little kid ride with my dd when he was around 10 and she was around 4. The seal they were riding in wouldn't go up the little hill because basically he was too big and the attendants had to push their seal to get it to move. He is in the back of the seal with his hands over his face while they pushed him and Kelsey over the hill. I'll keep that picture forever.

[Colexis Mom]

Another great update [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Hurry back [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Caldercup]

Just caught up in one go - terrific reporting!! Love the "and that was the third lunch of the day" comments! You have a great sense of humor and your affection for your family is wonderful to read.

Can't wait for more!
Eileen

[PrincessSharon]

Day 3 Part Two – “Is He Gonna Hug Us?”

When I arrived at the Ticket & Transportation Center, I decided to go for the monorail to the MK. When I got to the MK, there was no line at Will Call, so I picked up the tickets I had there for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] I usually have my tickets mailed, but I knew I'd be at the World before my December trip, so I saved the shipping charges.

When you order your tickets to be sent in the mail, you get the plastic credit-card type tickets, but when I picked them up at Will Call, they were paper tickets just like the regular tickets.

The lines at the turnstiles actually weren’t bad, but still slow moving. I walked down Main Street U.S.A. and couldn’t keep a smile off my face! I’d been wanting to try the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station, but I knew it was “seasonal,” which in WDW-speak is “open whenever we feel like it.” [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] I was happy to find it open today, and I checked out the menu. I wasn’t really that hungry, so I just got pot stickers and a soda. The pot stickers weren’t bad – I’d definitely eat there again.

I found a great spot to enjoy my food, with a fantastic view of the castle. I thought it might be a great “secret” spot for the fireworks, but when I walked by later, it was mobbed! While I was eating, Cinderellabration started. I couldn’t really see it, but I listened to it. After eating, I took this picture.


I think I’ll eat in this spot all the time!

I headed over to Space Mountain next. The standby was listed at 20 minutes, but I could see the line extending outside the building and thought that 20 minutes was off. I grabbed a FP for later and hopped aboard the TTA to survey the area. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

While zipping about above Tomorrowland, I decided to try to get a few pictures. Taking pictures on TTA involves some timing, but I managed to get a few keepers.







I figured the fam would want to hit the attractions in Fantasyland with the boys, so I headed over there. As I passed the castle, I stopped to get a few pictures.





I decided that I don’t like the mirror in person, either (I’d only seen photos of it before). The characters have grown on me and I like them.









Once in Fantasyland (which was pretty busy, but not awful), I checked the standby times. Most things were about 30-40 minutes. I knew Mickey’s Philharmagic usually wasn’t too long a wait, so I went over and there wasn’t much of a line. I didn’t have to wait long in the lobby before we were let into the theater. I have to say, this show really needs a preshow! Also, the seats are arranged so that if someone with a big head sits in front of you, it really messes up the effect. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] I complain all the time about this show, but it really is my favorite 3-D show, and probably my favorite MK attraction. Just don’t sit behind a big-head! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]

After Philharmagic, which was brilliant as usual, I called DM to see where they were. DM had taken them to Toontown, so I told her I’d meet up with them by Dumbo. They came over and DM, Jackie and the boys got in line for Dumbo, which was a manageable size. I had a ripe SM FP to use, so I headed back over to Tomorrowland.

The standby line was reading 40 minutes now, but using my FP it was more like 10. I got the left side this time. I know this ride is old and slow, but it never fails to put a smile on my face when I go zooming through space! I love it!

After SM, I rejoined the family in Fantasyland. The boys had done Dumbo and were on line with DB just about ready to get on the carousel. They got on and rode. DB picked all inside horses for them to ride so DSIL and I had a discussion on how he should know to pick horses so we can get a good photo! I can tell they enjoyed it based on their huge smiles. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

After the carousel, we checked out the line for Pooh, which was 35 minutes. I figured we could try that later and we headed for the teacups. Now I’ll ride anything – I eagerly queue up for Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain, even Mission Space, oddly enough. But the teacups – umm … no. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img] The boys love the spinning car on the carousel at our mall so DM and I knew they’d enjoy the teacups. DSIL is the brave adult who went with them.


Sorry, I’m not savvy enough to get rid of the strange glowing eyes [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

They got the cup spinning at a pretty good clip, but Noah did the spinning, so it wasn’t as fast as some of the other cups. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img]

I’d only made one dinner stop so far, so of course we had to stop again. I gave the group the choice of TTNS, Columbia Harbor House or Cosmic Ray’s. They decided on TTNS and we headed that way. That’s when I noticed that lots of other people knew about the fantastic castle view from TTNS.

Everyone liked what they got but I don’t remember what everyone got. DM got the cashew chicken salad, but she somehow missed the salad part and was surprised to get a salad! She liked it, though. I remember that DF particularly loved his food, which was some sort of chicken dish with rice. Thumbs up all around for TTNS.

I’d only had a light dinner, so I decided it was time for ice cream. While they were getting their food at TTNS, I went to the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor and got myself a big ol’ honkin’ sundae and managed to finish the whole thing off! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]

As we were eating, we could see a bit of Spectromagic on Main Street. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] Once everyone had finished, we headed into Tomorrowland to ride Buzz Lightyear. The guys wanted to go on Space Mountain and the standby time was 30 minutes so they decided to ride it. The rest of us went on Buzz Lightyear. When we got inside the building, the part of the queue when Buzz Lightyear “talks” to you, Noah asked me if he was going to hug us. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I just found it hilarious that he wasn’t afraid of being eaten or beaten up by a character, rather getting hugged by one! Scary! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] OK, I’ll stop picking on the poor baby. I assured him that we wouldn’t get hugs and on to the ride we went.

I may have mentioned this before, but I stink at Buzz. So I’m not going to tell you my score. But I’ll say it was awful! DM got a higher score than I did! DSIL kicked both our butts. Her score was somewhere around 130,000 (which was almost double our combined scores). Noah had about 4,000 and D, amazingly, had 13,000. I beat those two, at least! I’m not saying by how much, though! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

The ride photos were hilarious! DSIL wanted to buy hers, but the line was very long so she decided against it. The boys loved it and were both pretty good at it. They have the V-Tech video game, so they are both pretty familiar with the concept. I played video games throughout my youth and will still play Nintendo on occasion, so I have no excuse for my Buzz Lightyear lameness. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

The standby time was still 15 minutes, so they decided to ride Buzz again. I was sure the boys would get better scores (and of course I wouldn’t), and I didn’t want to be humiliated by a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old, so I let them do Buzz again and I went on TTA on my own. I purposely didn’t ask them about their scores on the second-go-round. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

It worked out that everyone finished their respective rides at just about the same time. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] Wishes was just starting. Our spot in Tomorrowland wasn’t the best, but everyone mostly enjoyed the show. D didn’t like the noise and covered his ears. Noah just loved the fireworks and they turned out to be his favorite part of the trip, with Illuminations being his very favorite!

After Wishes ended, the family made their way with the herds out of the park. I told them I’d rather not fight the crowds and would just sit down and watch the castle change colors until the crowds thinned out. They all thought that was a little crazy, but the next day, DM told me she wished they’d done the same thing because it took them an hour to get to their van, fighting crowds the whole way (and listening to DB complain about it too – where did I put that tape, anyway ).

While avoiding the exiting crowds I decided to try to get some night shots with my new camera. This was one area where my old camera was sorely lacking, so I was delighted with the results from my new camera – especially considering the fact that I don’t have the steadiest hand!







Next, I went over to get some shots of the Partners statue.



I slowly made my way down Main Street and more pictures on the way.









I took my time getting out of the MK, but I was still greeted by long lines at the bus stops. POR has its own bus from the MK, but both POR & POFQ had long lines tonight. It took about 30 minutes and 5 buses before I finally got on, but at least I had a seat. Next time, I will hang out in the MK for an hour instead of just half an hour.

When I returned to my room at POR, I got a little surprise due to my absent-mindedness. I forgot I’d decorated for Halloween before I left this morning!



Tomorrow we would be attending MNSSHP, but I planned to hit MGM for EMH solo, so I set a wakeup call for 6:30 and hit the hay!

Up Next: Morning Downtime – Commando Style!

[ngaill]

Your Trip Report is Great! Please don't stop!

[debsta922]

Love the Partners Statue pic!

[DawnDenise]

Love all the night pics of the Castle and the Partners statue. You are writing a great trip report!! More please!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[lauren-roxy]

Another great update and your pictures are really wonderful!! Sounds like a really good day at MK. Can't wait to read more!!

[Suzie]

I love your comment about the "ripe" fast pass!
More!
Suzie

[GoofyMom]

This is fabulous! I love all the pictures and your story-telling is making me feel like I'm there with you!

[PrincessSharon]

Day Four – Tuesday, October 11
Morning Downtime – Commando Style!

I was up well before the wakeup call – at 5:30. I watched television in bed for a while before getting up. I am oddly mesmerized by the Appliance Direct infomercials (“I LOVE APPLIANCES!!!!”) so I was pleased to find one on this morning! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Once it was over, and I was sure there wasn’t another one on on another channel, I got up and showered. Stitch and Mickey called at 6:30, and I only had to say hello three times before I got the message. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

When I caught the Studios bus, it was crowded with people from POFQ, so I ended up standing. At least I didn’t have to wait very long for it to come. When we arrived at MGM, there were long lines at the turnstiles. No checking for KTTW cards this morning. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

I headed straight for TOT (gasp – what a shock!). The standby at that time was showing 13 minutes, but was really a walk on. I enjoyed my ride and picked up a FP for later on my way to RNRC.

The standby for RNRC was 10 minutes, which is practially a walk-on. Every time I see the pre-show, I crack up. When Steven Tyler and Ileana Douglas lick their fingers and put them together and say “sssss,” if you watch, Steven Tyler immediately wipes his hand on the tall blond guy’s shirt (don’t know his name). [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] People around me always wonder why the heck I’m giggling like a fool when I see that.

I got the front row this time, which I think is my favorite place to sit on this ride. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img]

Once I’d finished with RNRC, my TOT FP window was open, so I walked over there to use it. When I got to the lobby, I noticed that no one was in the standby line, so I hopped over to the standby side and saved the FP for next time! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

Before I got back in line, I figured I’d walk over and grab another FP for RNRC, so that’s what I did. Then I walked back over to TOT. Still no line, so I got in the standby line and breezed through again.

The RNRC FP I was holding had become ripe, so I walked over and got another RNRC FP. Then I walked back over to TOT. In that short period, the line had built up again, so I needed to use the FP this time.

When I made it back over to RNRC, the standby was up to 40 minutes, but I had one FP ready to use and another one which would shortly become ready.

I used the first one and enjoyed my ride (and the preshow ). I ended up near the back which is very fast but quite bumpy. Once that ride was over, I could use my other FP and I did. I felt bad for all the people in the 40-minute standby line that I was passing (probably for the second time). Honestly, I did! OK, so I really felt more like this! Hee!

I wanted to try to see Lights Motors Action, which is new since my last visit, but the first show wouldn’t be until 11:00 a.m. It wasn’t even 10:00, so I didn’t want to wait around just for that. Just then DM calls and says to meet them at DTD for some shopping. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Knowing that there are no buses from the parks to DTD, I figured I’d take a bus to Pop Century (which I remembered was not far away). It didn’t occur to me until after I’d waited 20 minutes for a bus to Pop that I should’ve taken a bus to Saratoga Springs and then I could’ve just walked over. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] Oh, well.

Once I arrived at Pop, it was like seeing an old friend! I really enjoyed my stay at PC! Anyway, a bus to DTD arrived before long and we pulled in to DTD. By now I was hungry so I stopped in Earl’s and had Le Frenchy. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] I got it to go and walked down to the LEGO store, which is where I was supposed to meet my family.

On my last WDW visit, the LEGO store was behind walls, so I enjoyed seeing all the city scenes in the window. Because of the sun shining, it was difficult to get good pictures, but I managed to get a few decent shots.









The boys especially loved the big dinosaur and the shark.





I could only eat half of my sandwich and no one else wanted the other half so I saved it for later. DM put it in her bag and … well, let’s just say it didn’t make a very good souvenir!

I headed in to check out the goods at World of Disney while DB and DSIL rented a boat. DF stayed in the car the whole time (why did he even bother to come [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]). DM and the boys stayed at the LEGO store.

I managed to find a few things in WOD including a HCOE fleece sweatshirt, the 2005/06 calendar and a long-sleeved Goofy t-shirt (he is, after all, my favorite character). I saved about $9 with my AP discount.

I also hit Basin, getting some bath bombs for me and a few for DM, who is the proud new owner of a whirlpool tub in her bathroom at home. I’d be jealous, except she hasn’t used it once yet. Got my AP discount in Basin, too. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

DM decided to feed the boys now (even outside the parks we had multiple meal stops). McDonalds seemed like a good choice so she got them some chicken nuggets and fries. She also got ice cream for herself (DM ate hardly anything but ice cream on this trip – she’s such a bad influence on me!!!). I just sat with them while they ate.

After lunch, DB & DSIL were done with their boat ride, so we headed back to POR. Everyone noted how easy it was to find POR in the daylight. I didn’t mention how if they hadn’t gotten lost, it would’ve been daylight when they arrived.

We got to POR and all took bathroom breaks. When I came out of the bathroom, I discovered both boys had climbed into a bed and made themselves right at home! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] If you ask them, the best thing about POR was the beds! OK, so I’m not the only strange one in my family! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Noah had been pouting because his parents went on a boat ride and he didn’t get to go, so the plan was to rent a pontoon boat so they could all go together. Then DM suggested that maybe they might like to go swimming instead. The boys liked that idea!

So we all got into the van again and headed to the Palms. I had them stop in front of Fulton’s so I could pick up my Mickey pumpkin hat for the party.

DB and DSIL were hungry now, so they decided they wanted to eat at Subway. They’d seen one while they were lost the other night. We managed to find it with no problem and even better, we made it back to the Palms without getting lost again. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

The boys changed into their suits and we headed for the pool. I wish I’d thought to bring mine, because I would’ve loved to join them. DM and I sat on the edge with our feet in the water while the boys played in the pool. Noah is just getting comfortable enough in the water to go under so we had to say “wow” and “oooh” a hundred times every time he went under.

I also had a really scary moment here – after one of those “wow”s, I realized I sounded just like my DM! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] I remarked to DM that I sounded like her, and she agreed with me! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] After that, I made sure to make all my “wow”s and “oooh”s sound much more youthful! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img]

After pool time, we all returned to the villa and the boys changed into their costumes for MNSSHP – Batman and Robin. We all made sure we had our tickets and piled into the van.

Up Next: It’s Party Time!

[lauren-roxy]

Great update!! Can't wait to hear about the party!!!

[KandJluvdisney]

great story so far
my husband would be jealous of those great tiger pics you got - he is tiger obsessed!
can't wait to hear more