Trip Report The Better Late than Never Halloween (and boy can I be stupid) Report

docdebbi · Jan 9, 2014

After dinner at the plaza, we went to the bathrooms next door to change into our costumes. thought I'd be embarrassed changing here, but we had to wait for a stall..........apparently everyone had the same idea.
the only problem? it was still 90+ degrees and humidity was awful! and some of us were in fleece costumes. can never guess the weather this time of year.

apparently the little girls didn't mind. they so loved their costumes they really didn't care

every year I make everyone's costume, and the girls just love getting to pick their fabric and style.

merida- or "sparkly merida" as she requested

rapunzel

minnie, of course

and Winnie the pooh and friends, boy were they hot!

see how happy he is to be in fleece?

Mickey wasn't happy about posing, but caught him in the family/castle photo

Winnie and company had to ride Winnie............

lots of candy to be had - notice the lightweight clothes on the lady behind us...smart girl

never pull a tigger's tail, doesn't she know this?? it was her favorite game all night

docdebbi · Jan 9, 2014

the parade was crazy crowded, were several rows of folks back standing on the stocks in Liberty Square, and we lined up an hour plus ahead. the heat was crazy, and it wasn't our happiest time, but when the parade started it got a little better.

actually caught the headless horseman en route

had to catch a shot of our namesakes..............

did ride the haunted mansion, a requirement for me at this party. no more appropriate night of the year....

all in all, a tiring but fun night. late night getting in, and still needed baths, a little bit of sweat to deal with!!!

Ember · Jan 10, 2014

Great costumes!!!

docdebbi · Jan 12, 2014

Next morning again we got to see an empty castle. You know what that means? We were on schedule. Yea!
Breakfast at CRT. A little girl's dream and an adolescent boys nightmare. He's a good sport and didn't whine a bit. Seriously, I was surprised. maybe he knew Jasmine would be there........now THAT is an adolescent boys dream.

first stop, cinderella

then Ariel. I must admit, I love the new fancier fabrics of the outfits, not such a fan of the off the shoulders deal.

Jasmine, yup, he didn't mind posing with her at all.

apparently my brother has no issues with his masculinity. Waved that wand all around.

We really are a nice loving family, but somehow armor brings out the violence in the family........

I think I see her tonsils

Right after breakfast we went to see Merida. We were there 1/2 an hour before she opened and there will still an incredibly long line. we had actually tried the night before at MNNSHP, but the line was over 2 hours long! Wow. Even more amazing because the bow and arrow weren't being used. they told us that it was broken. So since the older kids only wanted to see her so that they could do archery (maybe violence is a bigger trend with us than I thought), we went off and did splash mountain while the little girls and Dottie waited for Merida.

She just loved twirling. what little girl wouldn't?

docdebbi · Jan 12, 2014

they got to at least pose with the nonfunctional target

not sure what was going on, think he was just being silly

We all met for the new Princess Fairytale hall
fortunately we had FP+ because the line was crazy long, and it is not really air conditioned in there, and even with FP+ we waited over half an hour. it was just recently opened, hopefully, they will work out the kinks. it is beautiful, just hot.

some of the art work in the waiting area

snow white again, we certainly had our fill of princesses this trip.

Rapunzel, meet rapunzel.

kids get to look at the original story on the way out, kids didn't believe I could really read German, but after seven years of it in school, I could remember some.........at least enough to read these pages

docdebbi · Jan 13, 2014

Next up.........A Tale of Two Beauties

Side by side they sat down..........
both excited to become princesses

Precious Patty

and sweet little Kieran

but then.........it happened.................

exhaustion began to catch up with her

no, she wouldn't, not here, in BBB.........can't happen. she waited the whole trip for this..........

oh, I was wrong, it could AND DID happen. out she went.

even face jewels and make up and hair pulling and nail polish couldn't wake her.

had to be carried out and still didn't wake.
truly, a sleeping beauty. you knew it was coming, didn't you?

meanwhile, back with the awake child..........

she certainly appreciated the pampering

docdebbi · Jan 13, 2014

anyone else enjoy the dichotomy of the evening gown sparkle material and the dirty sneakers?

how our bigger princess left BBB

got so into the role, she wanted to be carried like a real princess.

how our littler princess left BBB,
well, at least she got a good rest........

and so ends the Tale of Two Beauties

a quick snack, first time I got a mickey pretzel, fun fun fun

then Tom Sawyer Island

Pirates of the Caribbean, Aladdins Magic Carpets, Jungle Cruise,

and finally home. a looonnnggg tiring day, but one of the best.

oh no, now princess number 3 is out..........
if we just kept to THE SCHEDULE, they'd get enough sleep ! only kidding, but true!!!!

docdebbi · Jan 15, 2014

Went back to the hotel and the little guys slept while once again the big kids went to the pool. we were getting brave enough with their behavior that they actually started going to the pool without us. of course it helped that we were on the first floor, closest to the pool and if you stuck your head out the door you could actually see the pool! it also helps that they are both competitive swimmers with scholarships in their future, so we felt pretty safe.

tonight's plan was back to the park by 6:00 to claim a spot on main street near Tomorrowland noodle terrace because we had reservations for the Wishes dessert party.

Guess what? Yup, we were a little late getting there. I make a schedule for a reason people! alas.........
but we did arrive by 6:30, not that far off schedule. Unbelievable- main street was taken pretty much in it's entirety. An hour and a half before the parade, and barely a spot to be had. I did snag us a small spot just a little down from Tony's where three kids could sit in front and adults stand behind.
But, oh yeah, Railroad wasn't on the schedule, but they decided that they wanted to do it, and now was the time. It was MY job to fend off all comers while they took a quick ride on the RR. I dutifully spread out my blanket, put several backpacks all over it, rolled the stroller up next to it, and plopped my down to defend the homefront.

Wouldn't have been so bad, but apparently the train stopped somewhere en route for 20 minutes! That's a lot of extra time kicking people and their little urchins off my property! Well, I tried to MAKE it my property.

Long story short, as always seems to be, we have a turf war. the people next to us suddenly have a bunch more people, OK, but you don't get to stand in front of me- especially on my blanket. It was actually pretty funny as I texted my brother- standing beside me- what we needed to do each time one of them sat on one of our kids. A TURF WAR! it actually put a bit of a damper on the experience, but as always, once the parade starts, things improve.

I don't know why, but I absolutely love this parade, maybe because "sparklies" have always been my thing. I love anything that sparkles, and this parade sure does.

As the parade is finishing, now we have to really hightail it to the Wishes party since we weren't sitting that close to it. It is always my goal to be right there, and after the parade, just pop over, we're there by 20 after and still have plenty of time for desserts before the show.

My brother must have felt a little guilty about being late for the parade and the far away seats because I've never seen him move so fast. We made a little train and he was our fullback, we got through that logjam on Main Street in 4.5 seconds flat.

Woo Hoo Dan!

docdebbi · Jan 15, 2014

they always skip the hyphen in my last name, and make it look like the world's longest name.

I really didn't care, I was so excited by our table. Guess it pays to be the first guy to book the party. We were at the closest seat to the railing, close enough no one could get between us and the rail so we actually got to sit for the show. HOW NICE!

Ain't no way anyone is sneaking in between us and the railing, had enough turf wars at the parade.

First the light show, Memories,Magic and You, I think.

then Wishes. Again, LOVE that show. makes me cry everytime, and I've seen it alot!

My brother's family has never attended this party before. It was a big hit, and I was quite the hero for booking it. Love it when a plan comes together.

This was the end of the night's plan. although I knew there were EMH after, I had figured that we would be cooked and need to get to bed early. Again, off schedule, the kids wanted to do a couple rides before leaving. Against my better judgment, but excited at the thought, off we went.

Apparently we were punchdrunk by this point. Much silliness ensued, but it was a great time. Don't tell my brother or SIL, but some of the best times were when we cheated on my schedule. This was one of them.

The down side to this cheating, is this..................

long way to carry a sleeping kid, but worth it. Especially since I didn't have to carry her

another busy day and busy night drew to an end, and bed was very welcome!

FlaggNL · Jan 16, 2014

Also love the Electrical Parade, wish they had it in DLP these days

docdebbi · Jan 16, 2014

FlaggNL said:
Also love the Electrical Parade, wish they had it in DLP these days

wish I could just BE in DLP these days!

FlaggNL · Jan 17, 2014

docdebbi said:
wish I could just BE in DLP these days!

I understand, same for us for WDW

But hey it's October before we know it!

docdebbi · Jan 20, 2014

on the way out, we stopped to take some pics

this is about as artistic as you can get with a point and shoot!

docdebbi · Jan 20, 2014

Now, before you go thinking we just have bad taste in clothing, and coincidentally on the same day, Animal Kingdom is "Hawaiin Shirt Day" with me. No matter who I go with, there has to be one super tacky everyone in Hawaiin shirts day. And if you accidentally "forget" yours, don't worry, I always have extras.

So, we begin the next day...........already off schedule.
and where, you may ask, is everyone else for this photopass pic? why dawdling along, not getting moving, being OFF SCHEDULE ! See how happy Kieran is to be in the "good group"?

we did let them into our next picture when they arrived, but I was being lenient. late again, no pictures for you!

first up the safari.
Since it was early morning, decent amount of activity.

Patty really like the safari, and was happy to pose.

even got a decent shot of the lions

docdebbi · Jan 20, 2014

Bug's life......

followed by Lion King. I'm going to miss that show while it is closed.

then time to split while we did dinosaur and someone stayed with Kieran who was too short and more importantly, we didn't want nightmares the rest of the trip!

patty went once, but opted out for the second trip, preferring to play on non-moving, non-roaring dinos. and going to the boneyard

docdebbi · Jan 20, 2014

first trip included poor little Patty, you can tell she wasn't too happy. Guess that's why she sat out the second trip. Anyone notice I'm the only one not scared? Guess I've done this before, huh?

don't get why the kids were scared again second time through?
short memories maybe?

photopass time. gotta do this shot.

I asked for magic shots occasionally. the kids had no idea what was going to happen, but they're just used to Crazy Aunt Debbie making them do weird things, they don't even ask anymore.

they were quite happy when we got the disk and I showed them why.

my SIL reasonably asked me what folks do who don't know to ask for these since no one ever offered us one. Have to agree with her, they should be offered, you shouldn't have to ask.
But that's why wdwmagic exists, teach us these things.

next up lunch at Anandapur local cafes and then Expedition Everest

docdebbi · Jan 21, 2014

first time for most of the guys trying chopsticks

kieran seems to have it figured out, well, at least it's effective

but not very filling. forget those chopsticks........i'm still hungry

maeve also gave it a whirl....

worked just as well, time for a fork..............

ha ha Dad can do it

after tummies were filled, the girls found the hat shop.

then off to Majaraja trails

love the fruit bats, just cause it grosses out the little girls.....

tiger friend came to visit

docdebbi · Jan 21, 2014

time for a little pin trading, even though it's not on the schedule!

I'll have that one please.....

then used FP+ for Finding Nemo. Was a little disappointed. We used to do the Tusker House lunch so that we could get reserved seating for the show. This time I used FP+ thinking that we would have reserved seating and didn't have to get there early. No, all it means is that you are guaranteed to get in, there was no reserved section, we have to scavenge for seats at the last minute. Even though you do get to bypass the long line to get in, don't think I will spend a FP+ on this again as you still need to get there pretty early to get decent seats.
But as always, the show was great, I think possibly the best of all the parks. IMHO.

remember, fish are friends, not food....

uuggga waagga uuuggga waagga......

Go with the flooowwww- my favorite song

i love a happy ending

Next up, Kali River Rapids
I agree with Maeve, not sure why Daddy tried to make us wear ponchos, that's for wussies.

docdebbi · Jan 21, 2014

Kali River Rapids- Dad sat it out, didn't want to get wet, what a old man! (don't care that he's 13 years younger than me chronologically, I'm really much younger, or crazier)
so Dan took Kieran up to the bridge to shoot us with the water guns, while we rode

look, we ditched the ponchos when Dad wasn't looking
Maeve got a little wet,
ok, she was the one who got hit the wall of water so she got a LOT wet

started shivering immediately, but she was up to do it again
this time they convinced the old man to come along

this time there were 2 of them aiming for the family, and unsuspecting bystanders
I think one thorough drenching was enough for Patty

ha ha Dad you are going to get WET

yeah, not with his old man poncho on, what a baby

but at least he wasn't shivering llike Maeve. maybe he's got a point, but he's still an old fogey

docdebbi · Jan 21, 2014

oh my goodness, how could I have forgotten
on the way to Nemo, we stopped by Expedition Everest and used our FP+ coupled with child swap to get 2 rides in.

my brother and nephew on the first trip

Maeve and I on the first trip

now comes the second trip
nothing scares that kid, only second trip ever and acting all cool, notice above, I still brace like it's somehow going to save me. not Maeve

Now back to where we are.
Or rather should be

See, here's that schedule thing again
My schedule called for us to bring a change of clothes and anyone who was wet would change so we could go straight to the 6:15 hoop de doo

my brother that morning informed me that he wanted to go back to the room to change.

"Oh Dan, I don't think we'll have time, but if you insist, we can skip the parade, rush home, rush the change and get right back on the road, but boy is it going to be tight"
"don't worry we'll make it"
"alright, but promise me you'll hurry" (not his strong suit)

so after Kali, we need to hightail it out of there
"oh, but poor little Maeve is drenched, i'm going to stop and buy her a towel"

"really? every other kid is drenched and they're not getting a towel,
OK but hurry"

"oh, wait, Dottie called, she stopped to buy some musical instruments for the little girls"
"ok, but hurry"

"oh wait, the FP+ for charging is down, I need to run a credit card to her"
"ok, but hurry"

"oh wait, even the charge card system is down, I need to run her cash"
"ok, but hurry"

"oh wait, we need some ice cream"
"not ok, just hurry"

by now, it is almost 5:00 and we are due at Hoop de doo at 6:15 all the way over at Fort Wilderness, and we need to change first!!!

"don't worry we'll make it"
"ok, but hurry"

we see the photopass guy on the way out, they want to stop for photos
"ok, but hurry"

notice the new musical instruments in the shot.....

make your best "be a lion" faces.
"ok, but hurry"

well, we get to the hotel at 5:30, change, actually quickly for them, and are back on the road

we hit Fort Wilderness parking lot at 6:05, but have to wait for a bus

he finally says "hey, maybe we're not going to make it"
"really? really? NOW you think we're not going to make it?"

God is SOOOO on his side, as we literally run from our car to the bus stop, a bus pulls in, running and panting we make the bus and step off it at 6:12

As we literally run from the bus to Pioneer Hall, they are just closing the photos, ok with me, not a big deal

"oh, hold on, let us take your picture"- no lines, no waiting, nothing. how do they pull this off?

by now everyone else is just finishing going in to the building so we walk right in like the King of the World. really- I think I hate them! HOW DO THEY PULL THIS OFF???

then, they walk us right to the front and seat us essentially on the stair up to the stage.

REALLY, HOW DO THEY PULL THIS OFF? really, are these the luckiest folks you have ever seen?

no lesson learned by them today! Jeezz

Trip Report The Better Late than Never Halloween (and boy can I be stupid) Report

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