My Lack-Luster Frozen-Hiney Cabbage-Full January Report-of-Sorts

I've put off the report for quite some time for lotsa reasons/excuses. I know I'll never top the epic I wrote last January so I won't even try. I've started and restarted writing this a bunch of times but for various reasons it won't come out how I want so I give up. Here's the pics with commentary. You'll get the jist.

Here's the pre-trip details for those who missed it or are interested. Just click here.

Jerry, gotta send a special shout-out to you. Thanks for talking with me the other day and doing your big-brother thing. I love you. This is for you.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Day 8 again...it will end eventually....

Finally, we met Buzz & Woody. It was sorta strange them not saying anything. We're all jabbering away and they're just standing there gesturing here and there. Nevertheless, it was FUN!!!!

After our Pixar Place fun we headed out the other side towards the Backlot Tour. Brian and I both appreciated the ode to one of our newest favorites, Up.

As many times as I've been on this ride this was the first time I really paid attention to the fact that at the entrance the truck is busting thru the wall and there's a smoke effect and sounds and everything. Major blonde moment, huh?

I know. I know. It's the same topiary w/Earful Tower shot everyone takes.

And there's the usual Catastrophe Canyon shot. Do you see the notso Hidden Mickey???

Here's a little closer look:

Juuuust out of the picture to the left is the wing tip Walt's old "Novemer-two-three-four-Mickey-Mouse". Tracey was quite irked at the fact that there are dents in the wing tip. My aviation buff had this to say: "That's so messed up!!! Who would do something like that?!"

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Day 8 continues...it's so long I prob'ly won't even finish this day until tomorrow!

Eerily quiet on the Lights, Motors, Action! set:

Outside the Backlot Tour exit everyone took a snack break. Well, except the boys and me. We went shopping nearby. Here's Chandler with some super-cute ears showing us his mouth full of whatever chocolate substance he was munching. Boys are so fun.

Hey! I remember that movie!

I forget what Mom & Dad took Brian to go and do but they missed us meeting Lightning McQueen & Mater.

This is for my Sweetness. Remember. When on vacation with a piper you gotta stop to discuss exposed piping. It's like a fun version of what they do every day!

On our way to meet the rest of the family at Pizza Planet (never been there before this day) we passed a snowman. Why weren't we posing with him earlier in the week?! Chandler didn't find the irony funny at all. Or maybe he was really hungry.

I loved what this ATM illustrates for children. When I was 7 years old (a very very very long time ago) I remember very vividly the 1st time my mom went to an ATM machine. Talk about rocket science at the time! Yes, this is akin to remembering the family's 1st VCR, microwave, and the day we got more channels for our tv than the standard 3 + the fuzzy PBS one. Anywhoo, we called it "The Magic Money Machine" for years. I don't remember exactly when it sank in the machine was in no way "magic". The money Mom got was her own. I think it really hit home when I stuck my plastic card in one and pulled my own hard-earned money out of one "magically". So here it is folks! The true Magic Money Machine! ((located inside Pizza Planet))

It's not gourmet but we enjoyed our salad-n-pizza combos. The inside was spiffy, too. "Yo!"

Over lunch it was decided Tracey would take Chandler somewhere or other, Mom & Dad went in another direction, and Brian would join me in a shop-stop at the Muppet's little shop. I didn't get to do Muppetvision 3D this trip which is complete blasphemy in my family of Muppet lovers. Oh well.

Inside the Muppet's shop one of the CM's totally went nutters over Ellie Boo. She had to know aaaaallll about her, all the details, etc. etc. etc. Explaining to people about the soft sculpture original Cabbage Patch Kids vs. the mass marketed ones with the vinyl heads you can buy at your local Walmart was repetitive during the trip but never something I was bothered by. If someone wanted to know I was happy to tell them. More than once I chatted with people who knew about them. Later in our trip I spent an extensive time speaking with a very fascinating lady who actually met Xavier back in the day and still has 2 of the super-valuable Helen Blue kids. So here's my sweet CM who loved little Ellie to pieces. I won't get her in trouble by going into the full story but I was so flattered that she loved my little baby so.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Day 8...you know the drill...

We were to meet back up with everyone back at the resort. Brian and I started making our way on out of the park.

We passed the Star Wars speeder-thingy photo op (can you tell I'm not a fan?) outside Tattoine Traders. Brian loves this spot to play pretend if just for a moment. So he played and I played along.

Then he played along with Ellie & me and gave her a ride, too.

As we mosey'd along I showed Brian another hidden treasure I knew about but had never tried before. Pull the rope outside the entrance to Indy's stunt show:

A nice CM happened along and took our pic playing with the rope pull.

On the way out to the buses I wanted a pic of Brian by the park entrance. Brian wanted to pretend to take Ellie hostage with his rubber/plastic knife he got earlier in the trip (& carried everywhere in his own adventure bag). Sometimes ya just gotta compromise and play along. Besides, who else takes pictures of their kid taking their dolly hostage at Walt Disney World? LOL!

He demands his ransom!!!! ((Don't worry. The ransom was a kiss & a hug which I don't mind at all. If it had been anything else I'd have kicked his butt & snatched my dolly back. LOL!))

True to form, while waiting for something I'll write my notes or take pics. Both took place while we waited for the bus.

And as we walked towards our room Brian finally found the Hidden Mickey in the African chandeliers hanging above the resort lobby:

 

[disneygirl1]

[/QUOTE]I was reading people's horror stories as they were returning the week prior to our departure and I got scared. I ran up to the local sporting good store and invested like $200 in 2 sets of long underwear for each of us. And I bought the cheap stuff, not the Under Armour brand. :lookaroun God bless the souls who have to buy the under clothes like that for regular wear. I think the only use we've had for them since returning has been Brian using his for pajamas and Chandler wore a set last weekend to go out on the boat fishing with his dad in the early morning. I like living in the south where essential clothing is flip flops and some cut-off jeans. :lol:

And thanks for reading. I'm sooooo glad you're enjoying it. I really have been afraid it'd come out as me picking all the crappy points out. We really did, overall, have a good time. It was just a very different good time than what we've had in the past adventures.[/QUOTE]


Man!!! I don't blame you for for going on a shopping trip for "warm" clothes. I think they said it was the closest its been in Florida those few weeks in January! It's funny, I said to myself reading your report, Wow, I'm surprised that they even own winter jackets and clothes living in Texas!! :sohappy:

Girl, let me tell you... I live in Philly and we have had one of the worst winters I have ever experienced! I will be happy when I put away the long underwear! :lol: I think I am a Southern Girl at heart... I can not wait till I can throw on some flip flops and cut offs!!!

Loving the report!!!

 

[ajl5102]

?

am i the only person who thinks a grown women carrying doll around their entire vacation and placing it in a high chair during meals is a little weird? :shrug:

 

[sweetpee_1993]

am i the only person who thinks a grown women carrying doll around their entire vacation and placing it in a high chair during meals is a little weird? :shrug:

Everyone's entitled to their opinions and I can respect how you feel. For the record, I didn't put my doll in the high chair. The cast did that as they were playing & interacting with us. I didn't once request a chair for Ellie.
I've been collecting dolls for over 10 years and I love them dearly. They bring me so much joy. Maybe some piece of me never grew up. I don't know. But you know being an adult still very in touch with some part of my inner child isn't the worst thing in the world. What more appropriate place is there to play pretend, have fun, and revel in a little make believe is there than the place where "magic" and "story" are the foundation for everything? People thought Walt was odd for a lot of the things he did, too. The man had a model/toy train in his back yard. People have hobbies & my doll collecting is mine. It's that simple. Bringing my special dolly on my trip didn't harm anyone, impede on someone else in any way, and brought my 2 big hobbies/interests together. In fact, a great many fellow guests enjoyed her right along with me.

If the doll in a high chair weirds you out do not travel to Cleveland/Helen, Georgia the weekend before Mothers Day every year. All us Cabbage Patch "freaks" converge for the annual collectors event. You'll likely stroke out with everyone walking around carrying babies, playing with them, and having a famous time. And stay away from Babyland General because Mother Cabbage gives birth every half hour or so which might make your hair fall out or something. Lol!

And finally, let us all remember the Golden Rule: If you don't have anything nice to say....

 

[Yensid40]

Everyone's entitled to their opinions and I can respect how you feel. For the record, I didn't put my doll in the high chair. The cast did that as they were playing & interacting with us. I didn't once request a chair for Ellie.
I've been collecting dolls for over 10 years and I love them dearly. They bring me so much joy. Maybe some piece of me never grew up. I don't know. But you know being an adult still very in touch with some part of my inner child isn't the worst thing in the world. What more appropriate place is there to play pretend, have fun, and revel in a little make believe is there than the place where "magic" and "story" are the foundation for everything? People thought Walt was odd for a lot of the things he did, too. The man had a model/toy train in his back yard. People have hobbies & my doll collecting is mine. It's that simple. Bringing my special dolly on my trip didn't harm anyone, impede on someone else in any way, and brought my 2 big hobbies/interests together. In fact, a great many fellow guests enjoyed her right along with me.

If the doll in a high chair weirds you out do not travel to Cleveland/Helen, Georgia the weekend before Mothers Day every year. All us Cabbage Patch "freaks" converge for the annual collectors event. You'll likely stroke out with everyone walking around carrying babies, playing with them, and having a famous time. And stay away from Babyland General because Mother Cabbage gives birth every half hour or so which might make your hair fall out or something. Lol!

And finally, let us all remember the Golden Rule: If you don't have anything nice to say....

:sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

I don't collect Cabbage Patch but that was one heck of a post!!! WOO!

 

[Yensid40]

Fantastic trip report too by the way. I went back to last years as well just to read it. Your photos are candid and your comments sincere. Keep up the good work! :wave:

 

[MEyeSeeKayEY]

Amen! Some people just try to bring others down. Those types of people need to get a life.
I LOVE your reports. They are the most informative ones on this site and are so fun to read. I just love all of the pictures!! Don't let people like this jack donkey discourage you!
Go Cowboys!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

disneygirl1 - (the quote thing is acting all weird on me)

I lived in Central Florida from the time I was 6 until I was like 16. I remember maybe a couple times having hard freezes where the news was all about the orange crops being destroyed, etc. It's just not the norm for that part of the world. We've been to WDW during January/February on all but 1 of our family adventures and it's never been like that. It was bad.

We've had an unseasonably cool winter here, too. I think the majority of the country has. The folks north of us have had it muuuuch worse so I won't complain too much. I find our unusually cool winter this year to be refreshing for the most part. I think the biggest difference from having cold days here rather than at WDW is when I'm home I can just stay inside or only be out to walk to/from the car. At WDW you're out in it for longer periods of time which isn't fun at all.

Winter jackets. :lol: We have lighter weight stuff that you layer with. I was so glad I bought the boys and myself new jackets in the fall. I got the boys each Northface and me a Marmot that are wind/water resistant from the big surf-n-ski outfitter in Houston because if we get cold snaps they're usually accompanied by rain. The gloves & hats I got locally. And lemme just tell ya, those same one-size black knit gloves I got the kids at Academy Outdoors for $.99 before we left were being sold in the shops at WDW for $8. Talk about some mark-up! And Disney didn't put a logo on or anything. They were exactly the same! Grrrrr!!!!

Oh yeah! Head on down this way, girl! We'll throw us on some flip flops, hack our old jeans off, and sit outside all night throwin' back some drinks. That's my kinda livin'! Although, during the summertime we do get the melt-your-face heat. I'm forever telling my mom I know the location to hell now. It's right next door to southeast Texas! :lol::lol:

Is it just me or have you noticed my report becoming more of an actual report the further away from the cold days I get? That's been my mental block. I can't get past the disappointment of changing my normal go-n-do because we didn't want to get out in that bitter cold. :lookaroun

 

[sweetpee_1993]

:sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

I don't collect Cabbage Patch but that was one heck of a post!!! WOO!

Thank you. It was my mom-ism speaking. You don't have to be a collector to be kind or appreciate that each person is different. I appreciate the support. :kiss:

Fantastic trip report too by the way. I went back to last years as well just to read it. Your photos are candid and your comments sincere. Keep up the good work! :wave:

I'm glad you're enjoying the report. I'm going to try to get more posted. I've got so much going on this weekend so it may be early next week before I get back to it but next week is spring break for the boys so I'm practically guaranteed to finish. Your comments are encouraging, tho. I think you 'get it'. What you see is what you get with me and my report is every bit of me poured onto the screen. So thank you! :animwink:

Amen! Some people just try to bring others down. Those types of people need to get a life.
I LOVE your reports. They are the most informative ones on this site and are so fun to read. I just love all of the pictures!! Don't let people like this jack donkey discourage you!
Go Cowboys!

Eh, I don't take it personally, really, if others don't understand. It takes all kinds, right? In the end, the reports are fun for me so I can relive our adventures so it doesn't really matter if someone is irked by something they see. I'm soooo glad you're enjoying the report as well. When we go on our trips we always feel like the more the merrier. For me writing the reports feels like taking people along for the ride when they're digging it. Glad you could join me! :sohappy:

 

[DecWDW]

I'm loving your TR! The Sunrise Safari looks like a lot of fun. We did the behind the scenes tour of Animal Kingdom. Can't remember the exact name, but we got to see where the animals meals are prepared, go into the surgery room and visit the backstage elephant (I say Heffalumps!) and giraffe pens. Awesome! Maybe your family would like to try that one out too. I can't believe the weather you had! I would have stayed in the room the whole time! I'm in Southern California, so I don't like the cold either.

 

[dandaman]

Disney took theming to a whole new level when they made the whole park feel as cold as Mt. Everest.

Tell me about it. Try riding it in 34F at night; happened a few weeks ago. It was AWESOME. :lol:

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I'm loving your TR! The Sunrise Safari looks like a lot of fun. We did the behind the scenes tour of Animal Kingdom. Can't remember the exact name, but we got to see where the animals meals are prepared, go into the surgery room and visit the backstage elephant (I say Heffalumps!) and giraffe pens. Awesome! Maybe your family would like to try that one out too. I can't believe the weather you had! I would have stayed in the room the whole time! I'm in Southern California, so I don't like the cold either.

I would sooooo love to take the boys on the backstage tour at Animal Kingdom but the minimum age requirement is 16. A lot of the tours at WDW are like that and I understand the reasoning. Both the boys are itching to to Keys to the Kingdom & the Segway ones. 4 more years! And my hubby has been saying for years that if/when I finally get out to California I probably won't ever leave.

Tell me about it. Try riding it in 34F at night; happened a few weeks ago. It was AWESOME. :lol:

Ooooh, night rides! Aren't those the best?! I don't know that I'd like it freezing cold so much but I suppose it could add to the experience of EE, huh?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Day 8...the 2nd half of the day when it all goes to crappola...

After a 20 minute power nap I was up getting ready to go again. Looking back now, it seems sorta pointless that every time we returned to our room we would walk out to the balcony to see the critters and then again after each sleep. Why? The view doesn't change much. The animals are basically the same ones hanging around out there eating. Things to make you go "hhmmm".....

Geoffrey! I was true to my word and didn't grow up. The store is a little different than it was back in the day. I can't say I'm much of a Toys-R-Us kid anymore....

We headed back over to DHS at about 4:30.

Some things never change! Boys will be mean old boys! I had set Ellie on the seat next to Tracey on the bus and took a picture.

Then he decided to do the mean boy act to my dolly!

But I fussed at him & made him behave himself. Boys are mean!

Busted! Working while on vacation is bad!

Mom & Dad wanted to catch the last show of Beauty & the Beast. We hadn't been on 2 of our big favs yet so we split up for a bit. Tracey, the boys, & me went to have some thrills! First stop:

The standby was like 40 minutes or something like that and fastpasses were gone so we waited. Long lines = more pics!

Brian's okay with the wait because it's worth it!

Oh yeah, buddy! You're next!

Chandler wouldn't quit playing with his camera and humor his momma with a picture!

This is all he gave me. He grabbed my camera and this is the exact angle I got:

 

[maggiegrace1]

am i the only person who thinks a grown women carrying doll around their entire vacation and placing it in a high chair during meals is a little weird? :shrug:

Well..judging by the pictures and the posts that other people loved the doll..and the fact that everyone else who has commented on this thread have said good things about the doll..I would say ..Why yes...yes you are!..

Seems to me like you may be the weird one..:wave:




Great report and pictures as always!...

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Day 8...little did we know we were gonna have the worst Disney experience ever!

Can I just say that this tshirt is friggin' awesome and I really really want one?! I loooove The Go-Go's!!! Girls who rock are awesome!!!!

And we had an excellent spin on Rock-n-Roller Coaster. As always. I so love this ride. It's such a fun ride but when you couple it with great Aerosmith tunes it's pure magic.

Next on our agenda was some Tower of Terror thrillage. WooHOOOO!!!! The extent of our wait was in the boiler room. For some reason it was pretty backed up in there & took like 20 minutes to get seated in our elevator. We love this ride. It's so much fun & the theming just can't be beat. Here's the on-ride pic - proof positive that I will post a goofy picture of myself just to document the moment.

And then there was this photopass shot as we headed to the BAH to meet up w/Mom & Dad.

We met Mom & Dad by the hat. We still had some time to kill before the park closed so Brian & I showed everyone the rope pull by Indy. Then we all went over and hit Star Tours ((which totally screams "Help Me!" in all it's very dated glory)).

We had pics of the rest of the evening but it ended so crappy we all deleted everything we had so as to try and erase the entire thing from our minds.

Yep, , it was the most unDisney awfullest experience we have ever had. I can't even bring myself to talk about it anymore. It was sickening. The one thing that could get us to cancel our Lunch w/an Imagineer turned out to be a bust of historical proportions. Yes, it was the Tables in Wonderland dinner gone wrong. Very wrong. For those who didn't see the thread when it was going down the link is here.

The only pic I have for the rest of the evening is a photopass shot from over at Epcot between France & the International Gateway. This is it. It's all I have.

So the rest of the night was a bust. Tracey spent some time on the phone with the airline seeing what it would take to change our flight back home to ASAP from what we already had 2 days from then. Yeah, I can honestly say that's the one time I truly was ready to go home before our trip was supposed to end.

And that's all I'll say about that. Day over.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Day 9...Arrrrg! There be pirates ahead!!!

January 16


This was the day the big guys had their 2nd round of golf at Eagles Landing or Eagle Point or whatever the name of it is. The plan was for me to take Brian to go do his special something. But oh how my feelings were still seething and my temper still fuming from the crappola the night before. It was so hard to drag myself out of bed. I just kept telling myself I was going to go thru the motions of this and make it fun for Brian because this is his time. It became a mantra of sorts in my brain just to keep myself moving.

Mom was still sleeping when it was time to go to our ADR @ Kona over at the Poly so Brian & I caught a cab over just the two of us. The Kona coffee helped me a little. The pineapple macadamia pancakes made a little dent in my gloomy mood. I told myself during breakfast if I was gonna be miserable inside I had to be better at not being miserable on the outside. Brian was excited about his special treat that was coming. I just felt so awful, like my Disney-colored glasses were shattered. How to recover from that???

So we left Kona and there was a line all the way inside the Great Ceremonial House for the monorail. I've never seen that before. Eventually we got on the monorail. I don't know which of the Disney Gods thought we needed some quality time on that monorail but I'd like to smack 'em. It took 35 minutes from the time we boarded at the Poly until we disembarked at the Magic Kingdom station. Yeah, that was helping my mood back down the tubes.

Here's the obligatory "I took a picture while we waited" pic:

When we got to the Magic Kingdom we had to book it to make it for Brian's special treat in time for his appointment. Along the way we got hung up in the now thoroughly aggravating celebration parade mess. Oh! And look! It's the magical crane that's not really there!

Yes, I was still feeling like going home wasn't gonna happen soon enough. Without the Disney-colored glasses the magic is shattered and you just feel like all the celebrate this, celebrate that, celebrate you crap is nothing but a mockery. When I took the above pic I can tell you exactly what I was thinking, "Yeah. I know what you schmucks are celebrating: the fact you can sing that song and get all these mesmerized people to throw more money your way. Grrrrr!!!!" It was shameful how sour my disposition was. I'm actually ashamed of myself. Really.

So on we went towards Brian's special treat. Look what he got to do!

We checked in and only waited a few minutes before it was time to enter. Going in...

First stop, the wardrobe fitting! They didn't have the costume Brian wanted in his size so he settled for an XS men's shirt w/the Cap'n Jack hat.

Next it was time for Brian to be given his pirate name. I just knooooow this CM is gonna love me forever for capturing quite possibly the worst picture ever taken of him. LOL!

And he showed Brian where his clan hailed from:

So Brian is now David Starcastle. My absolute favorite part of the naming was the statement, "For the rest of this day ye shall answer to no other name than your Pirate name: David Starcastle....UNLESS...UNLeeessss ye' mother invokes the use of both your first and middle names at which time there is no longer any Pirate shenanigans." Good advice. :lol:

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Day 9 continues...Things can only get better...

After being given his pirate name, Brian...er...David Starcastle & I were seated on some crates of pirate treasure to guard from the innocent-looking lady sitting in a nearby chair. While David guarded the treasure I snapped some pics. The theming in the Pirates League is fantastic!

And then David was given a chair of his own. Who can look at that smile and not have their gloomies melted??

The mark of the pirate. This was still in place when Brian/David went back to school so he had to explain what it was to the other kids...

Getting socked in the eye...

And slashed across his cheek...

Getting worked over has never been so much fun...and so painless!

Taking the oath:

Here comes the weaponry!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Day 9 some more....My own little pirate warms his momma's soul...

And here he is, David Starcastle in all his glory:

When we stepped out of The Pirates League the area was packed with people for the Pirates Tutorial thing. I wasn't gonna be rude & push to the front so we snapped this little gem and moved along...

I had gotten a text from Tracey that they were almost finished so we figured we'd head on back to the resort to see what Mimi was up to. On our way back to the hub we saw Lilo all by her lonesome looking like she could use some company so we stopped in to say hello. Lilo liked Brian's look & wasn't scared at all. I guess if Stitch doesn't scare her a sweet young pirate can't possibly bother her.

Brian had so much fun with his new look. Even waiting for the bus he was more than willing to ham it up & play.