[Cavey]

A Critical Analysis of Character Flaws Revealed While Under Stress and Lack of Sleep.

It is said that a person's true character is seen NOT when all is well and good, but in the stress and fatigue that breaks down the masks we hide ourselves behind. This writer looked into Disney's Magic Mirror this past week and saw, not Snow White, but something more akin to the Evil Queen with her poison apple. The reflection and the revelation were both disconcerting.

The Trip Down:
We left from the in-law’s at 6pm January 1. The game plan was simple. I slept all afternoon, woke to put the pajama-ed kids into the van, and took off to drive all night, fuel by the nap, Mountain Dew, and Red Bull. It went flawlessly. I covered 900 miles in roughly 12 hours, stopping only for gas and bathroom breaks. By the time the kids woke up, we were in White Springs, Florida. Of course, by now, I was exhausted. DW drove for 1 hour and then stopped at a playground with the kids while I slept. With two hours of sleep I was ready to go again, and we finished the trip without incident or accident (We counted 5 accidents on the 60 mile stretch between Ocala and Orlando. Four of them were on the Turnpike.). The funniest part of the trip was approaching the gates to WDW. The kids did not know where we were going, until they saw the archway covered in characters. 4yo DS was beside himself.

Pop Century:
I wasn’t prepared for the crowd on Sunday. PC’s parking lot was packed! The check-in line was 20 minutes long. CM from other resorts were called in to help with check-in. This was value season????

Still the wait was pleasant, and spirits were high. I engaged other guests in idle chit chat while waiting my turn. Finally I checked in and asked the CM about tickets. She didn’t know the new ticket system and asked me to go to the guest services line. I opted to wait until later.

Our room was small, but adequate. We loved PC, and have nothing but going things to say about it. The kiddie pool was perfect for the kids. The theming was fantastic.

I went back to the guest services counter a few hours later. The ticket system was down. I asked somewhat nervously, “Am I going to be able to get tickets for tomorrow?” The answer was, “I think so.”

Kona Café:
We drove over for dinner at the Kona Café in the Polynesian Resort. We really liked the experience, though looking back at the week it was probably the least impressive dining.

At the Polynesian I’m finally able to get park tickets: 5 day MYW tickets with no options.

And, of course, how could we not take a spin on the monorail before going back to the PC.

More to come….

[Cavey]

Monday—Disney-MGM Studios:
Who knew this would turn out to be our favorite park all week. It was CROWDED. A CM said they were surprised by and unprepared for the crowd. This wasn’t an EMH day, and people should have been traveling home. Still, lines for most attractions were short.

We did the rope drop dash to ToT. DS went with me, while DW did the baby swap. I was a bit nervous that ToT might be the wrong ride to start DS’s week with, but he loved it and was eager to ride it again with DW. I grabbed a FastPass to RnRC for me, and we headed to StarTours and the Muppet Show.

At Al’s Toy Barn, we had Woody, Buzz, & Jessie all to ourselves, taking multiple pictures and taking our time to interact with the characters. This would be the norm for the day. We encountered Sully (Monsters, Inc.), Green Army Men, Pinocchio, Mary Poppins, Pocahontas & Meeko, Phil (Hercules), Snow White, Mulan & Mushu, and Tweedle Dee & Dum—all without lines. We only stood in line for the Incredibles and Frozone.

We took in attractions, interacted with characters, and generally enjoyed ourselves…but by 2:30 is was obvious 2yo DD and 8mo BB (Baby Boy) were dragging. DW decided to take them back to PC. I helped get them on the bus, and then DS and I went to the parade, more attractions, and shows. By 5:30, I remember thinking, if it wasn’t for Fantasmic! we could leave the park.

And there was a major mistake. We rode StarTours 30 minutes before Fantasmic! and then casually walked over to the theater, only discover the show was SRO. I couldn’t believe it, considering the theater is usually 1/3 empty in early January. So I watched Fantasmic! with a 40 pound squirming kid on my shoulders. Ouch!!!

Still, it was enjoyable, and I knew our vacation was onto a good start.

BEST MOMENT OF THE TRIP: I asked DS what was his favorite part of the day. His answer: "Spending it with you, daddy!"

And then I got back to the resort….

[Dana]

Enjoying it thus far. Something tells me that this is going to be a well told story and I cannot wait to read the rest.

[BDavis932]

Can't wait to read more!!

[PrincessJill]

Adorable pictures! I'm addicted to your TR already...

[disneyguy]

Glad to hear it got off to a good start. Sorry the MYW stuff was a little tough on you.

[Cavey]

Tuesday—Damage Control

DD and BB are both running 101F temperatures when I get back to the room Monday night. DW is working the medication routine, but fevers are still not down Tuesday morning. There goes our plans for EPCOT, and the plans for the week.

I take DS swimming and later the young ‘uns are well enough for an excursion to DTD. We lunch at Earl of Sandwich, and then start shopping for a SHORT while, before BB starts squalling in the World of Disney. Back to PC! Dinner at PC is yuck! Way too much garlic and most unhappy CM’s working the food court.

The day is pretty unmagical, and here we discover the flaw of tickets that expire…we can still add the no-expire option, but it will cost us $105. Unless the kids are sick for the rest of the trip, the no-expire option will end up costing us more money than we would be out. A little bit of Pixie Dust falls off the vacation.

[Dana]

oh no! Darth told us your children got sick. I hope it didn't last long.

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by caver_jeffery

BEST MOMENT OF THE TRIP: I asked DS what was his favorite part of the day. His answer: "Spending it with you, daddy!"

That says it all.

[Cavey]

Wednesday—Magic Kingdom
OR “Did I Really Spend an Hour of My Vacation On The Indy Speedway?”

It’s DS 4th Birthday. We’ve got to get him to MK. Fortunately, temps are normal, and all seem better. We get to MK at 8:30, and have a great time. In the first two hours, we’ve done ALL of Fantasyland (including Peter Pan twice), PLUS Haunted Mansion and Goofy’s Barnstormer. How great is that! We meet Alice & the Mad Hatter.

At 11:00 we head over to Chef Mickey’s and have a GREAT birthday party. Back at MK, the lines have gotten long. Waits are everywhere and DD & BB aren’t looking too well again. DW takes the kids back for a nap while DS and I do the parade, Splash Mountain, PoC, Buzz, and the WEDWAY PEOPLE MOVER (don’t correct me!).

DW & kids return for dinner, but the crowds are growing. DS keeps asking to drive the Indy Speedway, but the lines are 30 minutes, and I HATE that ride. I keep telling DS that we’ll do it after Wishes, assuming lines with diminish.

Wishes was enjoyable, but now it’s time to pay the piper. Lines during EMH are longer than during the day. Fortunately FastPass is open. Still by the time DW & DS get off Indy, an hour of waiting has passed!

Stitch has no lines. DS seems to like it, but won’t go on it with DW. We leave MK at 9:30, tired, grouchy, and worn out. Tomorrow was SUPPOSE to be a rest day, but Tuesday’s sickness has forced us into a dilemma—see EPCOT on Thursday or don’t see it at all…

[Erin]

Ugh. I am hoping this gets better.

[disneyguy]

I am loving the pictures. Your poor kids, and poor you for having to worry about the money you invested on tickets.

[Cavey]

Thursday Part 1

We’re exhausted. Miserable. The kids are over-tired, which leads to fights, temper tantrums, and melt downs. Snot is everywhere. We give up on EPCOT Wednesday night, and make no wake-up call. No park. Staying at PC.

Except DS is up at 7a.m. and won’t let the rest of us sleep. Well, we’re up. Let’s go to EPCOT. We arrive around 10am, and Disney Magic kicks in. Out of no where a family walks up to us and gives us their FastPasses to Test Track. Yes!

I do Mission Space solo—no wait at 10a.m.! And then on to Test Track. DS loves it—all three times! But by 11:30 the kids are all back to melt down mode. Not for the last time, I tell DW that I’ve “reached my limit.” I’m tired of yelling at the kids to stop fighting. I’m tired of DD running off from us. I’m tired of the kids’ fits. We decide to leave.

BUT Wonder of Wonders…on the way out all three kids fall asleep in their strollers. DW & I assess the situation, and…of to World Showcase.

What a LOVELY afternoon. We stroll. We chat. We don’t have to use the phrase, “Don’t let go of my hand” for hours. In fact, we wind up at Marrakesh in Morocco, and enjoy the Berber Feast for two. What an experience! We’re just finishing lunch when the entertainment surprisingly starts. DW is not happy that this CM chats with me for a while...

[Cavey]

EPCOT Part 2

The kids awake one-by-one in surprisingly good moods. The naps have helped, and so we continue our tour of World Showcase. At DS request we ride El Rio de Tempo twice in a row (It’s the closest thing to a ISWA fix we can get this week.). The kids LOVE the model train village in Germany.

We do TestTrack again at DS request, then Universe of Energy, then Turtle Talk with Crush. BB is taken with the living coral character outside the Living Sea exit.

We head for dinner in Japan. Stop for Off Kilter (always a good show). Good food, but bad behavior make us decide to leave before Illuminations.

And I miss the chance to meet DarthTortoise.

We go back to the room, and fall into our routine of getting everything ready for the morning. And then I realize it. I left DS ticket in the FastPass machine at TestTrack. Oh, no! What are we going to do…

[disneyguy]

HAHAHA... My friend one time had the dancers come right in front of him. His mom was a little dismayed. LOL..

Sounds like a great afternoon.