Fuzzy Memories of a Noobs First Trip report

Dawg4Mickey · May 4, 2012

Great Trip report. This is getting me even more excited for our trip. We are taking my nieces to Disney for the first time, and I have not been since I was 8, so it will be like the first time for me all over, and I cannot wait to go. 102 more days.

Uncle Lupe · May 4, 2012

Dawg4Mickey said:
Great Trip report. This is getting me even more excited for our trip. We are taking my nieces to Disney for the first time, and I have not been since I was 8, so it will be like the first time for me all over, and I cannot wait to go. 102 more days.

Thank you so much glad you enjoy my ramblings. There was about 20+ yrs between my trips and it was a entire different place. Just remember to take photos of something every so often. Using the time stamps from the pictures has helped me put this together. Wish I had more.

Uncle Lupe · May 6, 2012

Day Six: Magic Kingdom

With this being the last day for Erin, Chad and the gang we head back to the Magic Kingdom. This time we spend most of our time in Adventureland. When we get to Adventureland we find that there is going to be an Aladdin and Jasmine meet and greet. Well we have to do this because TJ was heart broken the night before. She had to see her even if it was like an hour wait in partial shade. So the girls get in line and I suggest that we get fast passes for the Jungle Cruise. So Chad and I get those and return to find the line has not moved. The characters were on a break and Teresa decides to sit by the Magic Carpets. I wonder around the shops and enjoy watching the kids get "spit on" by the Camel.

I decide to take a seat with Teresa and we deploy the umbrella on the tables to beat the heat. After sitting for a while Teresa leaves me to help with the kids and I am left sitting with all the junk. Two strollers, two packs and cameras and I are just sitting there people watching. That is when I look up and see it. I have to rub my eyes and double check the sign. The Sunshine Tree Terrace. This is the place of internet lore and legend. This is where I can get a Dole Whip. But I am now stuck guarding all the junk. I try cell phone and nobody answers. I just have to pray to the Tiki gods for help. The Tiki gods have mercy and Katie returns wanting a drink.
So I use this moment to try to explain what I was so happy about. "Dole Whip Katie that's where you get a Dole Whip!" My glee falls upon deaf ears, "Whatever just get me a diet."

I'm off looking at the sign in full amazement and you can hear the heavenly chorus, and bongos. I get close enough to read the menu and no where does it say "Dole Whip". What do I do? What is the true Dole Whip that I crave and have seen pictures of? That's it, all the pictures have been of vanilla soft serve and pineapple juice. It's what I order and just hope that is the "famous" Dole Whip.

Noob mistake... Relying on a nickname for something.

I return to my umbrella and sip this sweet nectar of the gods. This is living, in the Magic Kingdom and gettin' my Dole Whip on, I hope. As I am enjoying this treat I am still contemplating if this is the true Dole Whip. Oh well it was a great treat.

Chad came over the get the camera as they were getting close to the front. And I ask him is it fun to be standing in line this entire time? Sarcasm heavy. Well it's been good, princess Jasmine is hot. What? And you left me here to rot for an hour while you kept this to yourself? I have to see this and it was time to video anyway. So I have to concur with Chad Jasmine was attractive. And trying to fight my way through the crowd to the front was a feat. She was surrounded my passing guys just gawking. I was expecting to see some dollar bills being thrown.

As you can see Peyton did not want anything to do with Aladdin.

This will probably be the most popular video of the trip report. :lol:

The other kids did fine and TJ was satisfied and acted like it so what's next.

After the meet and greet the kids want to fly the Magic carpets. This Katie and I skip and let Teresa take Allie. Teresa does not like heights so she is screwed again. Before they board Allie is pointing to the sky. While waiting for the ride to start Sydney is priming the switch to get jump on the other carpets.

Then we go enjoy the Tiki Birds, it was a walk on and not at capacity. Many people were just walking by not even knowing it was there. That was a cool show with all the room effects and this was one of Teresa's mothers favorites. She left with some water in her eyes but she enjoyed her grandkids watching the show.

After the Tiki bird show we go to the Jungle cruise. We use the fast passes and get to the front where some non normally dressed cast members ask us if this is our first time.

Noob mistake.. Not wearing my button the entire trip. You never know what experience they will present.

But with Allie this young that is what brought the question. All the other CM's were dressed in Jungle Cruise attire but not this guy he was dressed a little different. So when the boat pulls up we are not loaded first wave toward the back but in the second wave and told to sit at the very front on the marked seat. I was just thinking this is so cool we get to be at the front. OK nothing different just at the front with no heads blocking our view.

I did not know that this would be the Junior Skipper seat and my daughter would get to "drive" the boat. I was living in the moment when Katie told me to record this so I did not get the entire thing on video.

Noob mistake.. Always have the camera at the ready. A marked seat means something.

That's when I understand that the boats are not driven by the wheel or we would have been beached.

If anybody knows this CM Kailey Ann please thank her. I should have stopped at City Hall but I did not think of that while we were there. Also I have no idea what happened to her Junior Skipper license.

Uncle Lupe · May 7, 2012

After some talking I was able to get Katie to save some of Erin's pics from Facebook for us to have. They are in such a jumbled mess I'll add them at the end as a trip in review via pictures. That will be my the first time viewing them also. It's will be neat to fill in some of the missing parts of the trip and also see what they did when we split up. Looks like some pics of me in there too.

Uncle Lupe · May 7, 2012

Day Six cont: Magic Kingdom

We make it safely back to the shore and Chad wants to eat a Cosmic Ray's after the great reviews that we gave it from the night before. So off to Tomorrowland. The only thing that we did was Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. And then we test our skills on the open road with the Tomorrowland Speedway.

This was a long hot wait for this short cramped ride. But all the kids could enjoy this so we had to ride. When we get to the front the CM told Katie, Allison and I to get into two different cars. I get into a car by myself and am asked by Katie to politely join them. :lookaroun So I leave my car and run up to join them. At this point I see why the CM split us up. Getting two adults and a kid in this at the same time is a tight fit.

I drive and Katie takes pics. Allison is just wondering why am I squished in here.

[

This ride takes a lot of concentration.

I have driven plenty of go-karts and been driving for a good while. I could not keep this thing off the rail. We bounced back and forth all around the track. Felt like we were in a pinball machine.

This is one other thing that I can remember form my trip years ago. Is hurting my thumb when you get back to the loading station. As the rail widens it can whip the steering wheel around and if you finger is in the wrong spot then it get whacked. Maybe the wheel was more open back then because this steering when was more closed in the center not allowing your hand int the center. I also made sure to take my hands off the wheel while we parked.

With my driving skills in question and after some shopping it was time to head to Hollywood Studios to catch Fantasmic. I still was thinking that we could have had lunch at San Angel Inn but this day was a good day so it was OK.

On the bus ride Katie decides to interrogate the girls on the way to the Studios.

We did not know if we were going to make in time to get seats. Everything you hear tells you to be there way early to get seats. We only got there with a little over and hour before the show. Well that was plenty of time and it was a hot wait with nothing to do but try to entertain the kids. Some body started the wave and you could hear people chanting in the far right of the amphitheater. Then you could see beach balls being hit around in the same section. Wonder where they are from? Well I found out when I was behind two girls in the concession line with shirts that said Brasil. That made that wait a little more bearable.

Let's pass the time and make a fish face.

So the show is about to begin and I take this picture of the evening with my cell phone.

I should have used this panoramic option a lot more for other pics just to have them.

The show was alright but I was not impressed. Maybe just being a long day or the hot sun but I do not understand all the hype about this show. It looked like all the show effects were working but this show did not draw me into the story.

With the show done we leave for the 1 mile forced march behind the Beauty and the Beast stage show. Bad show by the way you have this nice path to get you there and then have to take the long unthemed way out. By the time the show was over it the park had closed so there was nothing to do but leave.

The bus trip back to the resort.

When we get back to the resort we find a package waiting for us. It was our Magical Express packet for our return trip.

We pack some stuff but not all because we still have one full day left and Erin and Chad have to leave tomorrow afternoon to start their drive home.

Uncle Lupe · May 9, 2012

Day Seven: Magic Kingdom

As Erin, Chad and the gang are loading the van and prepping for the trip home we leave them to check out and board the bus. Katie and I figure that we will meet them there and we do not want to waste time on our last day. We will have to meet them before they leave to give them the stroller that they brought down for us to use.

The pack was left behind due to damage. It could not survive 4 days of use on this vacation. The backpack had broken a zipper so this was a rough trip indeed.

We get to the Magic Kingdom to make rope drop. Wow, I wish that we could have seen the entire show and not just the very end. Also wish that we could have made it to the parks on other days at open. So after some phone tag they are on the monorail heading toward the entrance. Katie and I are already half way down Main Street. We declare that this will be the day of Allison. Everything that we can do will be for her enjoyment.

So we head directly toward Fantasyland. We beat the crowd and every ride was a walk-on. The Carousel, Peter Pan, Small World. Small World was surreal. We rode in a boat by ourselves. Empty boats in front and behind. Not a soul but us on this ride. After we get off each ride a mass of people would hit the entrance. It was weird, we were one step ahead of everybody.

The only wait was for Dumbo which worked out because that gave us a little time before we rode the Tea Cups.

After that Alice and the White Rabbit were waiting for us. This is what I consider "my Disney moment." As I video taped my eyes were filling with tears, a lump was in my throat and my heart filled with joy. Allie walked up to her like she was an old friend. When Alice let her go and Allie was walking away I mouth the words, Thank You. Even as I write this and rewatch the video the emotion of the moment comes back to me.

There is a lot of negativity on these boards about the physical problems with Walt Disney World. But the heart of Walt is still there. The CM's are the ones who bring the magic to life. For that I thank you.

This is why we work our crappy jobs and we saved so that we could have a memory such as this.

When that is done we meet the girls to get FP's for Winnie the Pooh. Surprise it also gives a FP for Philharmagic. Bonus two for one! This early you did not need it but it made you feel special. Philharmagic is a great show. Neat effects and of course great assortment of music.

We enjoy both and head toward Adventureland.

This is the last thing that we get to do before Chad and Erin leave. We go visit Tinkerbell in Pixie Hollow. The waiting area could have been themed better. You can tell that she was just thrown in here because of no other place to put this experience. I was really excited to meet the Fairies. Who will be the guest fairy? Silvermist, Rosetta, Vidia? I can't wait to see! It's......

Terrance? Well he is a fairy. :lookaroun

Sydney can't believe what she is seeing.

Peyton is blinded by the Pixie dust

I was glad that this meet and greet was Photo Pass so that I could drop that backpack. We finally get to Tinkerbell. She is one of my favorite characters and I had this image in my head of what she might look like.

Sandy Duncan was not what I was expecting. She did tell us that we looked Flitterific and I had to get one last lean over for our last character picture.

On a side note. Allie now calls out local flower shop Pixie Hollow.

This is where we part ways. We have to give up the stroller.

Noob mistake... Not having a stroller for a two year old was horrible.

The girls want one last ride on Big Thunder and we decide to take Allie on Pirate's. When you are lugging around 30lbs of dead weight you find something to do fast. We had to wait a while in this line but that just gives you time to enjoy the themeing. The line was backed up to the open air part of the que. So it was a lot of enjoying.

fractal · May 14, 2012

The Jasmine video makes up for a lot of the "noob mistakes"!

Uncle Lupe · May 14, 2012

fractal said:
The Jasmine video makes up for a lot of the "noob mistakes"!

I had to trim to video. For some reason my camera malfunctioned and did an extreme closeup of Jasmine. Funny how these electronic gadgets have a mind of their own.

radev104 · May 14, 2012

Great trip report! I'm getting ready to get ready for our July trip and have been reading trip reports.

sam_disney · May 15, 2012

great report! really enjoyed readin! x

olinecoach61 · May 15, 2012

Nice job, I enjoyed your report!

Uncle Lupe · May 17, 2012

radev104 said:
Great trip report! I'm getting ready to get ready for our July trip and have been reading trip reports.

Yeah! Reading reports is a great way to get pumped

sam_disney said:
great report! really enjoyed readin! x

olinecoach61 said:
Nice job, I enjoyed your report!

thanks
I have been under the weather so I am going to try finish up soon.

Uncle Lupe · May 17, 2012

Day Seven cont: Magic Kingdom

We had a plan to go back to the resort to take a break and so my mom could drop off a pack of diapers. One disadvantage to having a little one. You have to pack a ton of supplies. We have reservations for Tony's Town square at 5:15pm so we figured that Allie can get a nap, avoid that hottest part of the day and carrying her around the park was a toll.

As we get to the front gates we have to get this mandatory picture. Even though it took us seven days.

We get back to the resort and Grandma told us that she left the diapers at the room. OK well we'll see you later, right. When we get to the room she and my stepdad are waiting in the room. Surprise! That was all it took to wind Allison up and that idea of napping was off the table.

After a few hours of trying to get her to lay down we give up and just refresh for dinner. This time we say goodbye to grandma for the last time and head back to the Magic Kingdom.

We get to Tony's to check-in and so many people cut in front of me it was ridiculous. None of them had reservations and were demanding tables to magically appear. They were told they would have 30 minute wait and that was just not going to work. When I do get to check-in the had my reservation down for four adults. No, just two adults and one child. I have no idea how that happened. So we sit and wait to enjoy our dinner.

That is when Allison has the meltdown of the century. Katie took her away from the table and she came back alright. Then it started again. Nothing would help her. Snacks, stuff to color, an early dessert. All failed. The table next to us just had to laugh, their kid was having the same issue. Katie took her for another walk and I ate the lamb shank. I had never had lamb and figured what better place to try something new. It was alright, it tasted like stew meat. When I was done eating we switched and I walked around the restaurant and we enjoyed the fountain in the middle. After that we skip dessert and hit the park.

I would like to give Tony's another try when we are not stressed with a unhappy daughter. There is a lot of detail in the dining room and out the windows. But trying to enjoy that and not hear you daughter scream and cry was difficult.

We go back to Fantasyland and use some fast passes that I had got earlier in the day. Even though I got them in the morning we were not turned away as they did not enforce the return time. The wait for Peter Pan was long but not for us we walked on like VIP's. And we rode everything else that we could. One thing that we did not do yet was ride the train. Allie had cried to ride it earlier at rope drop. That was the only time she saw the train and she had to ride. So with it an hour before the parade we decide to ride. I say this will work out fine. We just ride the train all the way around and walk back up Main Street to find a spot for the parade. We have 45 minutes plenty of time.

I was eating my words at the last stop. The last stop to take on water took forever. I think that they were filling it with a garden hose. We sat for a long time on a very empty train in the dark. Waiting for this train to start again and me counting down the time until Katie kills me for missing the parade.

We get going again and back to Main Street. 15 minutes left until the parade start. So we try to find a place and everything up Main Street is full. We press on toward the hub with the CM's telling us that they are closing the street that we have to find a spot. So to the hub and that is packed but we cannot go any farther. We find a spot on the back side of the hub right next to the castle.

This picture is not zoomed I am trying to use a trash can to get a night shot of the castle colors.

So the parade starts and I have to put Allie on my shoulders so that she can see. This was my first time doing this with her so I was a little nervous. I did not want to drop my kid.

As you can tell we were in the back of this crowd but we could see fine.

This point Allison is still awake and she enjoyed the parade. With that over we just stay in this spot and wait for the Memories show to begin and we have a seat. Allie falls asleep just before the show starts. We try to wake her but nothing works. The family near us are locals and seeing our dilemma spread out an extra blanket for her on the ground. We thank them and he says. "I have kids also, that's the reason we have blankets."

Viewing the Memories show that close was awesome. You could see a lot of detail and the castle appears to move and change shapes. That was a short show but a neat one to see.

After that the fireworks begin. This turned out to be a horrible spot to view the fireworks. Allie was still not waking up so, oh well.

Noob mistake... If you can't take a picture the entire castle you are too close.

With the fireworks over we slowly walk out of the park and I take one last look down Main Street and smile. You can't help but having a feeling of sadness as you walk out for the last time. That is why I call this the best sad day ever.

Uncle Lupe · May 18, 2012

Day Eight: Bus Stop Last day..

We were a little rushed to get the last minute things done. And check the room multiple times to make sure everything was packed. I forgot how much stuff we had. Three suitcases, three carry-ons and personal items it is a lot to wrestle down to the airline check-in and bus pickup.

Noob mistake... Just call bell services next time.

As you can tell Allie is ready to go home and her hair was not to be tamed.

Allison saw me looking at the paperwork and she wants to help. So the pink slip was her "ticket". I am saying a silent prayer that our luggage makes it home.

She is also asking me, "Can come back, daddy?". I say yes sweetie we will come back someday.

This pic was a good choice by Katie.

The return trip was fine until we get to the long term lot and find that my car has two tires very low. That is why I keep a portable air pump in my trunk. Just the luck that we seem to have.

So as we are driving 2hrs to home we get a phone call. It is Teresa checking in to see where we are. They had just arrived home.

They tell us that if they go again Chad has decided to fly. :lol: This was about 3:00pm and they are just getting home after leaving a full day ahead of us.

"I tried to tell them." That would be his noob mistake.

I need to take a vacation. God bless this mess.

I hope you enjoyed the read. And I hope that my mistakes help others on their trips. I had great fun reliving the moments and sharing our trip. Thanks for reading. Feel free to post your thoughts in the future.

The next post's will be the mystery pictures that came form Erin and Chad that I have not fully seen.

fractal · May 18, 2012

Great job!

One of the funniest trip reports I've read! Now I really can't wait to get back.

Cute pictures of your daughter and I love the one of the both of you on the sofa.

Uncle Lupe · May 19, 2012

fractal said:
Great job!

One of the funniest trip reports I've read! Now I really can't wait to get back.

Cute pictures of your daughter and I love the one of the both of you on the sofa.

Thank you so much. That was one of those rare moments that she wants to cuddle without being sick.

Uncle Lupe · May 20, 2012

Let's have some fun. These pics will be in no order and I have not viewed them until I post them. This is all new for me also.

Uncle Lupe · May 20, 2012

That first day was a wet one.

Uncle Lupe · May 20, 2012

We wonder if Sydney will have that middle child complex?

There I am!

The lady in the back does not seem to be fully commited to playing.

There is some bug goggle fun!

Uncle Lupe · May 20, 2012

Fuzzy Memories of a Noobs First Trip report

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