The Big Birthday Bash Trip Report - Thread 2 - Updated 12/30 - Day 8 - Molly's 2nd Birthday Part 2! About This Page:

[Luv4My4]

This is a continuation of my trip report thread - I don't know how to insert a link so I am just going to continue on here. There was apparently some kind of problem and my latest update wasn't showing up!! Hope you all continue to enjoy it!!

Sorry everyone, I couldn't figure out where to cut this one in half so it's a long one with lots of pictures!

Day 5: November 9, 2005 - EPCOT

I set our wake up call for 8:30 a.m. but was awake about a ½ hour before that. The kids woke up at around 8:15 a.m. and waited for the wake up call - it was Molly’s turn to answer it today and she really loved hearing Stitch and Mickey in the phone [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]!! I immediately started getting the kids bathed and ready since I wanted to get to EPCOT as quickly as possible to get Fastpasses for Soarin’. Then my Dad came in around 9:30 a.m. and said he and my DFIL & Carol were going to Publix for some groceries. I got the kids ready and we waited and waited, I would have left without them but I felt bad for Cathy who was waiting for her Mom in my parent’s room and it was Carol & Cathy’s last day and they were really enjoying Disney with my kids so I felt bad leaving. Anyway, they didn’t get back from Publix until around 11:05 and we didn’t get to EPCOT until 12:05 [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Of course I took the usual pictures of Spaceship earth and the girls in front of the Food & Wine Festival sign







Then we went to find the Leave a Legacy tiles that DH & I had bought on our trip without the kids last January.




Finding our tiles


Sorry the tile is a little blurry it was so sunny it was hard to see if the picture was good

When the kids got through looking at our tile (they were not as excited as we thought they would be [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]) we headed towards Soarin’ to see if there were any Fastpasses left (I knew there wouldn’t be but my Dad didn’t believe me). Of course I was right there were no fastpasses and I was a little annoyed because I had told my Dad repeatedly how early they are gone [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] My Dad promised to go to EPCOT early on Friday morning to get Fastpasses for everyone so I got over it especially since the standby wait was 300 minutes, we found out later that one of the screens had broken and that was why the standby wait was so long.

After being disappointed at Soarin’ we walked towards Mission Space since Erin wanted to try it. My DMIL went on with her because no one else was able to go on. I found out the hard way in January that I am somewhat claustrophobic and there is no way I can ever go on that ride again, Jimmy got sick in January because he kept looking at me to make sure I was ok, so he wouldn’t try it again. (I had a panic attack when I pulled the restraints over my shoulders and started pounding on the door to get out like a madwoman, the poor little girl who was on this ride with us is probably still traumatized [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/blushing.gif[/img]), my Dad is claustrophobic as well (I guess that’s where I get it from) and was afraid to try it after I described it to him and my DFIL has a pacemaker/defibrillator so he was also unable to go on. While we waited we got fastpasses for Test Track and then decided to try Universe of Energy because Shannon really likes Ellen Degeneres. We almost left when we realized that it was a 45 minute attraction but in the end decided to go on. My DMIL called while we were there and said they were done on Mission Space and my DFIL was going to take Erin on Test Track while they waited. Shannon loved Universe of Energy she really thought it was interesting so it was well worth the 45 minutes – at least she enjoyed something that was educational! When we got out of Universe of Energy everyone was pretty hungry so we started towards the World Showcase and the Food and Wine Festival. It was about 2:30 p.m. when we got there and I was starving since I hadn’t eaten much that day in preparation for stuffing myself with food from around the World. I really wanted some Cheddar Cheese Soup in Canada but it was just too hot. Unfortunately the first half of the Food and Wine Festival was filled with food that I won’t eat (lamb, venison, moussaka, sushi & Indian food of any kind, the smell of curry makes me sick) so I was still hungry for awhile. Jimmy, my Dad and DFIL had no trouble finding food, wine and beer to sample. In fact when we got to Great Britain Jimmy and my DFIL went into the Rose & Crown pub and stayed there for awhile. We (minus Jimmy & my DFIL) stopped to watch a show about King Arthur in Great Britain


The girls watching Camelot

then doubled back to Canada to see Off Kilter. This is the first time I managed to catch them (not for lack of trying [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]) and they are just awesome!! Molly fell asleep in Great Britain and somehow managed to sleep through the noise of Off Kilter





We caught up with Jimmy & my DFIL in Great Britain and continued on to France where I ran in to see if Belle and Beast were there but no luck so I took a picture of their window



for the kids. BTW I don’t like snails either so I didn’t manage to eat anything in France either. When we got to Morocco we stopped to listen to Mo Rockin but then Shannon spotted Princess Jasmine and so we got in line for pictures and autographs with her. Molly’s love of Princesses continued and she ran right up to get in the picture with no one holding her.


Shannon, Katie & Molly with Jasmine

After Morocco we went to American Adventure where I got the kids chicken nuggets and fries because Shannon informed me that there was no way that they were eating that weird World food [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] My parents, Erin, Carol & Cathy went inside American Adventure to see the show and Jimmy, the girls and I and my Din-laws sat at the tables in American Adventure for around an hour just relaxing and people watching. While we were there we watched the Fife and Drum Corp perform twice and Shannon & Katie got their picture taken with them (Molly wanted nothing to do with them I think the hats scared her)

Some pics of the Fife & Drum Corp





Shannon & Katie with the Fife & Drum guys

and the kids sat by the fountain for awhile





Finally we made our way to Italy where the kids watched Romeo & Edna and I finally got something to eat. I tried the Ziti something, it was all right, it had almost no sauce and lots of cheese but it also had something like prosciutto and I wasn’t crazy about that part of it. I ate about half of it and then went back and got myself a chocolate mousse dessert – that was delicious!!

The girls watching Romeo & Edna [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]





When we reached China there was a huge crowd watching a balancing act so we pulled over to watch. The next thing I knew I couldn’t find Shannon!!!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] She was there one minute and gone the next. Katie said she had gone into the crowd in front of the acrobats but I couldn’t see her anywhere. I told my DF & DMIL and we all started looking for her, I turned around to find a CM or security person and saw Jimmy over by the China food stand on his cell phone (he didn’t even know that Shannon was missing because he was off getting more food). Jimmy started waving to me so I ran over to him and he told me that someone had found Shannon and she told them about the label she had inside her shirt with our cell phone numbers on it and they were bringing her to us. It turns out that she did go into the crowd in front of the performers but it was so jammed in there I couldn’t see her and she couldn’t find her way back to us. She saw a woman with some kids and told her that she was lost and she had a tag inside her shirt. It turns out that the woman’s husband was an FBI agent, Shannon definitely chose the right people to help her!! Thank God for that label and honest people – it was one of the scariest things ever (at least until we lost Molly on Saturday but that is a story for another day)

Keeping a firm grip on Shannon we continued around the World Showcase so I could get a Chicken Quesedilla in Mexico. This was so delicious I had to get another one! Then I took Molly inside the marketplace for a quick look around and she insisted on trying on some sombreros.





After leaving Mexico we took Shannon & Katie to Test Track and waited in the standby line (posted 40 minutes but didn’t take that long) Shannon was a little nervous but I told her it wasn’t any worse than driving on I-95 with her Dad so she went on and really enjoyed it! Katie loved it too! After Test Track we had about an hour to kill before Illuminations so we went on Spaceship Earth. This is an old ride but such a classic I always enjoy it!!

Some pictures of the girls running and dancing on the lighted tiles near Spaceship Earth




It was almost time for Illuminations so we met my parents, Erin, Carol & Cathy to watch Illuminations – they were spectacular as always. I am so glad that the kids are finally over their fear of fireworks and that Molly loves them.


Molly and Erin waiting for Illuminations to start


Molly waiting for Illuminations to start


Katie getting ready to block the scary sounds

Pictures of Illuminations















Katie & Erin watching Illuminations


Happy Shannon





After Illuminations my Dad mentioned that Soarin’ was open until 10:00 if we wanted to check the wait time so we ran over there and the wait time was only 50 minutes so we decided to go on since Carol was leaving the next day. Cathy, Jimmy, Erin, my DMIL (my DFIL had left earlier he needs to take frequent breaks because of his heart condition) and of course Molly stayed off because they were too tired to stand in line (and obviously Molly was too small) but Carol, Shannon, Katie, my Dad, Mom & I all got in line. All I can say is WOW!! This ride is fabulous!! It is so realistic, when we dove down towards the guys in the boats on the river I realized I was lifting my feet so I wouldn’t kick them in the head LOL!! I also admit that I actually started to cry a little when I saw Disneyland and Tinkerbell and the fireworks, Shannon started screaming Tink Tink again (she really loves Tink) it was so special!! I think after 10 years my favorite ride Tower of Terror might have been replaced (or at least tied for first [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img])

When we got off Soarin’ we finally left EPCOT exhausted but happy. My Mom and Katie were obviously exhausted too since they both fell asleep in the wheelchair on the way to the parking lot.



When we got back to the room we found our trusty dolls waiting up for us!! (Did I mention that I loved our Mousekeepers!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img])



The Weather Today was: Gorgeous again, we couldn’t have asked for a nicer day!

The Best Thing was: Soarin’

The Worst Thing was: Losing Shannon

The Most Magical Moment was: Seeing Disneyland on Soarin’ and having Shannon get all excited again and yell Tink, Tink!! Ahhh I just love Disney Magic!!!

Next: Day 6, Part 1 - November 10, 2005 - Erin's 16th Birthday

[whoSEZ]

Stacey -- here's the link to the first part of your TR. Really loving this, thanks for posting!!

[Jennifer2003]

OMG! I'm so glad Shannon was found so quickly. Excellent job to you MOM for teaching her about her tag and to look for trusting people. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

By the way...are Shannon and Katie wearing Hillary Duff shirts?

Can't wait for more!
Jennifer

[Luv4My4]

Yes Shannon & Katie are wearing Hilary Duff shirts - they LOVE Hilary Duff, if Shannon woke up tomorrow morning in the Lizzie McGuire show her life would be complete [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]!! I will probably post another installment tonight.

[iamgrumpy]

Great update! Your girls look like they are having a blast!

More please!

Amy

[lauren-roxy]

Great update!! Sounds like you had quite a busy day!!! I'm so glad that Shannon was found so quickly and what a smart little girl to know what to do and who to approach!! Way to go Shannon!!! Your pictures are beautiful!! Can't wait to read more!!

[DrDolphin]

Wow - what a day. Shannon did a good job of keeping her cool and finding someone to help her.

[simbarel]

Sorry about all the inedible food, but I have to say that's one of the most eventful Epcot days I've ever read about! I lost DH in China once (totally different scenario, I know) and it made me panic! I'm so glad you found Shannon soon enough. I won't ride Mission Space either. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502no_prv.gif[/img] Great update, Stacey--glad the weather was so favorable and the magic was there!

[KandJluvdisney]

really glad to hear that shannon was found so quickly and how very quick thinking of her to go to a family with children and asking for help. kudos to you mom
glad that everything else is going well - can't wait for more

[Luv4My4]

Thursday, November 10th 2005 – Erin’s 16th Birthday - Part 1 – MGM again

I woke up at 8:30 a.m. again before the wakeup call, the kids and Jimmy were still sleeping so I got dressed and went to get Erin a gift from her sisters and a cinnamon bun (which is Erin’s favorite) I also got matches and a candle from the CM behind the counter since I had forgotten to bring them with me. When I got back to the room the younger girls and Jimmy were awake so we went into my parents room to sing Happy Birthday to Erin and the girls gave Erin the Tink baseball hat I had gotten for them to give her.


Shannon & Katie giving Erin her Cinnamon bun


Molly giving Erin her gift

We then got ready and hopped the bus to MGM (this is Erin’s favorite park)




Katie on the bus


Erin & Molly on the bus

When we got to MGM I took a picture of Erin on Hollywood Boulevard in her Birthday Princess shirt and pin.



Since it was Erin’s birthday we headed straight for her favorite ride the Tower of Terror. Everyone went on but my DMIL, DFIL & Molly – even SHANNON!!! She had been dying to get on but kept chickening out at the last minute. Erin told her that she wanted her to go on TOT with her for her birthday so Shannon finally got up the courage and went on. She sat between me and Erin and about half way through I heard her scream I LOVE IT!!! She got with a huge smile on her face – she had conquered it!!! Katie said she didn’t like it as much this time but loved it the last time so who knows [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img] Everyone else – including Erin – loved it as much as always. When we got off my Dad bought Shannon a Tower of Terror t-shirt and on the back it says I suggest you take the stairs (the last time Shannon went on TOT in 2002 she hated it and when we got off she turned to me and said that elevator is broken, next time I am taking the stairs so that shirt was perfect for her) and he bought Erin a ring with a pink stone in it that she had been wanting. We grabbed fastpasses for RNRC and went to Muppets 3D since Erin loves the Muppets and she hadn’t seen it yet.


Molly in her 3-D glasses

This show may need a little updating but I still love it and Molly kept trying to pick things out of the air again. When we came out of M3D we saw Woody, Buzz and the green army guys – since we had already seen Woody and the girls had no interest in the army guys we got in line for Buzz. Again Molly screamed until she got close and then got in the picture with Jimmy, Shannon & Katie (Erin didn’t want to get in the picture).


The girls and Jimmy with Buzz

After out picture with Buzz we started towards the Backlot Tour stopping for a quick picture of Katie under the Singing in the Rain umbrella



but it wasn’t on for some reason so she was a little disappointed. Finally we got in line for the Backlot Tour and when the asked for volunteers Erin was picked!! She was the volunteer who got soaked in the boat – Shannon thought that was really funny.


Erin getting ready for her “scene”


Erin getting ready for her “scene”


Erin in chair getting instructions from the “director”


Erin on the phone


Erin getting soaked [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]




Other volunteers


After her “scene



After Erin was done in her “scene” (she said her pants were soaked but the rest of her was dry) we continued on the tour where the little ones were really excited to see Herbie up close.






Shannon, Katie & Molly with Herbie

After the Backlot Tour we stopped at the food court there for some lunch. Jimmy, my Mom & Dad had the Chicken Caesar Wrap but I just had a Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich. I was saving room for Ohana that night. In the middle of everyone eating Erin told my Mom that she was going for ice cream and just walked away. After about 45 minutes of waiting Jimmy told me to go take Shannon on RNRC since our Fastpass time was about to expire and he would wait for Erin to come back to the food court. Shannon and I hurried to RNRC and got in line. Shannon had never been on this one before either and she seemed a little nervous but not too bad. When we got close to the exit I asked her if she was sure she wanted to go on and she said yes…then as we stepped into the car I asked her again and she said yes… then right before she pulled the restraint down I told her it was her last chance to get out and she said she really wanted to go on. As soon as pulled up to the tunnel she started flipping out saying “Get me outta here, they’re trying to kill me [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] and really crying and yelling. I yelled that it was too late to get off since they were already counting down 3…2…1 we’re off. I felt really bad and held her hand as best I could with the restraints on and after the 2nd upside down turn I heard her yell “I LOVE IT”!!! As soon as it was over she said Mom can we go on again!! I was crackin up and the lady in front of us (who had obviously heard her carrying on before the ride started) turned to me and said “Did she just say what I think she said?” and we laughed and chatted on the way out and then she turned to Shannon and thanked her for making her favorite ride even better [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]!!

When we got outside I called Jimmy and found out that Erin had come back without ice cream but with 2 baskets of French fries [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] and then gave him a big attitude when he asked her where she was because she didn’t want Mickey Ears or a Mickey Sandwich but hand scooped ice cream. (My DFIL told me she was so nasty he wanted to dump his soda on her head to cool her off – Ahhh the joys of teenagers [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]) If she had just asked me instead of walking away I could have told her there was a place for a hand scooped ice cream cone near RNRC where we were going anyway. Jimmy was really mad at her because they had to sit for over an hour while the little ones got more and more antsy [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] Jimmy and the girls were on Sunset Boulevard watching a street scene so I told him to send Erin over to go back on RNRC with Shannon – I love this ride but I can’t take it twice right in a row. I gave Erin my phone and told her to taken Shannon RNRC and then meet us on Mickey Avenue where I planned to finally see Who Wants to be a Millionaire. We got in line and WWTBAM and Molly spotted JoJo & Goliath across the street so Jimmy took Katie & Molly over there to see them and Donald Duck and he said he would stay out and wait for Erin and Shannon. My parents and I went to WWTBAM and didn’t get in the hot seat but it was fun.



When we got outside everyone was there waiting for us so we tried to get into Little Mermaid but the next show wasn’t for a half and hour so Jimmy said he would take Shannon, Katie & Molly to Playhouse Disney again while my Mom, Dad, Erin & I went on Tower of Terror one last time.

Pictures of Molly & Katie at Playhouse Disney Live (Molly liked it much better this time




When we got to Tower of Terror the wait was 50 minutes and it was already after 6:00 p.m. We had a 7:40 ADR at Ohana and since I wasn’t sure how long it would take to get to the Polynesian I was afraid to do Tower of Terror for fear it would take longer than 50 minutes and we would be late. Erin was mad but I asked her if she wanted to skip her dinner and go on TOT or go to dinner and skip TOT, she of course wanted to do both but I vetoed her and we walked back down to Hollywood Boulevard to wait for Jimmy and the kids.

Erin did a little shopping while we waited and then Jimmy and the girls walked up and we said goodbye to MGM until the next trip since we were avoiding the Super Soap Weekend madness.

Next: Thursday, November 10th 2005 – Erin’s 16th Birthday - Part 2 – Ohana!!

[Colexis Mom]

Another great update [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Love the pictures [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[lauren-roxy]

Another great update Stacey!! Your new sig pic is adorable!! Can't wait to hear about Ohana!!

[iamgrumpy]

Great update! Can't wait for more!

[Jennifer2003]

Another great update!!!! Can't wait to hear about 'Ohana and the rest of Erin's birthday!

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/birthday.gif[/img] Erin!

Jennifer

[krisk11]

Great update!!