[catfish1999]

I've enjoyed reading all your trip reports and figured it about time that I chimmed in too.

Living in So. Fla. we visit WDW about twice a year, for short visits. My step DD was visiting from Mich. with a girl friend so we planned a weekend visit to the world. The friend (16) had only visited WDW once when she was 3 so she didn't remember much at all. I was really looking forward to seeing things through fresh eyes.

The girls arrived on a Thurs., and Fri. we went to the Keys (this was Father's day weekend and my DH is a fishing nut, so this was for him). Had a great time doing the tourist thing in Key West and fishing in Marathon. For those of you who have never been, I highly recommend it.

On Tuesday I had to drive to Naples for a 2 day meeting. We had Disney planned for the following weekend with the 2 teenage girls and my 14 yr old DS. So I packed a bag for Naples and a bag for Orlando. Got back late Thurs. night and found DH very sick in bed with some kind of stomach ailment...couldn't keep anything down. Last time this happened (in March) he ended up in the hospital severly dehydrated (complications from gastric bypass surgery) Sorry...probably TMI huh?

Woke up Friday am at about 5 for the 3 hr. drive to Orlando...not sure if DH was going to make it. He was feeling awful so I did the driving and let him sleep. Problem was we were planning on spending the day at MK and checking into AS Sports in the afternoon, but he was not up to a day at MK at all. We got to the hotel by about 9 to check if by chance a room was ready. I explained to the CM that my husband was not well. We had arranged for 2 adjoining rooms, one for the boys, one for the girls, but they wouldn't be ready until 3, so I asked for one room, any room just so he could have a place to lay down and we could arrange for the 2nd room later. It took about 30 mins, but they did find us a room.

Felt bad about leaving DH, but he insisted we go on and that he just needed a day of rest and he'd be up and at 'em the following day...so I was off to MK with 3 teens in tow. Hadn't been to MK w/out my DH since we got married there 6 yrs ago

My Step DD's friend was so excited to be there...she was thrilled at the sight of the buses! It was really funny. I took a picture of her on her "first of many disney bus rides!"

We hit the MK and headed for tomorrowland. Did I mention that it was POURING? We had bought ponchos at the hotel as I had forgotten to pack them in my haste to get out of the house, so we didn't mind the rain at all. Rode Buzz, TTA, majority rule said no to stich (only disney character that i can't STAND! looks like a demented chinchilla), and contemplated Space Mtn. DS and step DD were against it...friend wanted to ride...me? I'll ride anything, but the line was already pretty long so we decided to wait until later - not a very smart plan - and headed to fantasy land.

The teens weren't too keen on fantasyland rides, so we grabbed a bite to eat in the pinocchio restaurant. It was really crowded, so I sent my DS to get a table, DStepD to go with him and report back to me as to table's location, and D friend to help w/food. Took forever in line...got the food and see DS heading back...asked "what happened to our table" in a madder than I should have sounded voice. I felt about 2 inches tall when he told me he gave it to a mom with 2 little kids who looked like they were about to collapse from heat and exhaustion. We ate our lunch on a bench. I'm so proud of my kid sometimes!

After lunch we hit the HM. The 2 girls are into the pseudo-goth look and thought the whole thing was totally "AWESOME!" Then on to Tom Sawyer's Island. I have never been a big fan of TSI....just extra walking if you ask me, but the kids wanted to go, so....
Before we left the island, the girls got into the first of many angst filled teenage girl fights. Having lived with 2 brothers and 2 sons (not to mention 2 husbands...not at the same time mind you) I'm not used to this sort of thing. Around my house it's usually about who just "dealt" one...if you get my drift...HA! drift...get it...??? anyway...the girls were arguing over Splash Mtn. Friend wants to ride...DStepD doesn't...has a terrible fear of it. I wasn't catching much of the argument, but did hear DstepD yell at the top of her lungs on the raft ride back from TSI..."I do NOT have a stick up my butt!!!" Sheesh!
So friend and I got fast passes for Splash and we all headed to PoC. Something we all agreed on. The girls are mad for the movie and love pirate stuff. They spent at least an hour in the PoC store after the ride having apparantly forgotten their recent argument . DS and DSD wanted to move along, but friend wanted to ride again and there was absolutely NO line, so we rode while they went to alladin. Now, DF is 16 years old, but, having been deprived of WDW for 13 years wanted to make up for it, so she bought an autograph book and stood in line with 3 and 4 yr olds to get capt. hook and smee's autograph outside PoC. I thought it was cute! I had never met this girl before and wasn't sure if she'd be the sullen teen type or what. To my great relief, she was a D nut like me!

We found out that it was EMH at MK so we could stay until 2 a.m.! Oh yippeee!!! These kids were wearing me out, but I was NOT going to let them KNOW it. They kept asking "how late are we staying" and I'd say "they'll have to throw us out!" My feet were thinking otherwise tho!

DF and I rode Splash, we all rode IASW and got a terrible case of the giggles. I apologize to the family in the row ahead of us. Must have been the heat, the exhaustion and the D magic, but I could not stop laughing! That ride is EVIL I tell ya!

Anyway, by midnight we pretty much decided we weren't gunna make it til 2, so we rode space mtn, astro orbiters and that's about it...headed back toward the bus. My new D buddy almost cried. It was so touching. She had gotten a few autographs, but not many because of the lines, but as we headed toward main street I saw goofy and yelled...go get him! My DS and DSD were not amused.

Got back to the hotel about 1 and remembered we didn't have our room yet! Limped to the lobby and the CM Joshua was a real cut up...drawing figures on the map...chiding my DS about cutting in line (there was NO line at 1 am). I looked at him and said..." I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING ...I JUST WANT A ROOM!!!" Mind you I was laughing as I said it!

Fell into bed at 1:30, feet throbbing, but completely satisfied with the day . (nice when the kids think you're a cool mom)

Next morning I was showered and dressed by 7 and the girls were still sleeping. DH gave his wakeup call by 7:15 saying he was feeling much better and making fun of the way my DS snores! Dragged the girls out of bed, grabbed breakfast and the bus to Epcot.

My DS and my DSD's favorite ride is/was Test Track, so we first picked up fp for M:S then rode TT. The kids were excited, but terrified to ride M:S. I was really glad that they all agreed to ride it and shocked when my son...who's motto is "no thrill rides, thank you" LOVED IT. DH and I had been before with NO kids so we knew the drill. The DSD said it made her feel weird and didn't want to ride again, but DF and DS wanted to go again! We picked up fast passes for later and hit a few more attractions, and went to check out Soarin'. The line was 90 mins., but our fast pass time for M:S was approaching so we waited a few mins., picked up fp for soarin' and headed back to M:S, then back to Soarin'. This was a new one for all of us, and the kids were a little freaked by the warnings, but we all made it on and we all loved it. If you haven't tried it yet, you really should. (all the cool kids are doing it ya know!)

Wish we coulda ridden it again, but the day was speeding by fast and we had early dinner reservations at Le Cellier, so we headed for WS. My only dissapointment about fw was that ice station cool is closed and i was looking forward to DF's face when she tasted beverly for the first time OH WELL.

Dinner was FANTASTIC! I've eaten there 3 times now and I consider in the top 3 meals at WDW. It's really nice to take a break from burgers and chicken nuggets and have an enjoyable, relaxing, QUIET meal.

We spent the rest of the evening taking a leisurly stroll around the world, picking up some chocolates in Italy, some funky candy in Japan for all the friends back home, the girls got henna tattoos in Morocco (another girly thing I wasn't used to!), riding El Rio de Tiempo in Mexico (that song sticks worse than IASW). By then DH was dragging, as we all were so we decided to skip Illuminations and head back to the hotel. There were no complaints from the peanut gallery. Fifteen hours on day one, twelve hours day 2...feet...hurt....

Back by 10 and DS and DF want to go swimming. DH and DSD are too pooped to party, so I have to drag my carcass to the pool to keep an eye on them. After an hour or so I was falling asleep on the lounge chair and called a halt to the day. Girls stayed up sampling Japanese candy (don't think the friends back home got any!) and it was lights out by midnight.

Hello and welcome to day three...for those of you still with me! We chose MGM for day 3. My favorite rides are ToT and RnR! I was really looking forward to this one! Got a message on my cell that my older DS who lives in the Orlando area would LOVE to meet me at MGM, and oh by the way could I buy him a ticket, oh yeah and by the way could I also spring for one for his girlfriend?! We met the 2 of them at the ticket counter and as I figured it they'd take their tickets and get lost, not wanting to be tied to the family! We had PS for 50's PT so I told them to meet us there. DH, DF and I headed for ToT and RnR and DS and DSD headed for SW. It was the last day of SWW and it was PACKED. Not to mention that it was hotter than the last two days by far, with no rain, no clouds, just that unrelenting sun!

We met up with the gang at lunch and to my surprise oldest DS and his GF had spent the entire time with his brother and step sis! AWWWW!!!

Lunch was fun...food is just ok, but "cousin Jimmy" was pretty funny. Oldest DS got a bib (complete with little mermaid ) and DF was nearly force fed green beans.

We bid adieu to oldest DS as he and his gf wanted to go to AK. Touching moment as he hugged his little brother goodbye (these 2 usually fight like pit bulls).

DF and I headed to pick up FP for RnR, but alas the machine was broken...YEAH, the CM handed out the FP so we could then head to ToT, pick up NEW FPs as our cards weren't scanned at RnR. Also, we got 5 of each since we held all the tickets. DH didn't want to ride anymore, so DF and I rode RnR 3 times and ToT 3 times! She's now officially a WDW addict!

We then met up with DS DH and DsD at backlot tour. Spent an agonizing time in line being melted by the rays of the sun...knew this would be a shorter day as DH and I had work the next day . Got an ewok (sp?) autograph and photo, rode the GMR and pretty much called it a day. I call it a success when I can ride RnR and ToT 3 times each!

DF wanted to pick up some things at the RnR and ToT gift shops before we left, so we dragged our weary bodies back down the road, picked up the goodies and headed for the car for the long ride home.

Although it was only 3 days, we really crammed a lot of fun into that weekend. The kids had fun, didn't fight TOO much and I didn't have to work too hard to keep up with them!

Hoping to go back and do it all again in Sept. or Oct. for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.

[DisneyTeacher]

Wow! What a fun trip report. It sounds like you had the perfect trip. I am so glad your group got along so well, you just never know when teenage friends are involved.

[lovemysons]

Sounds like a fantastic time! Isn't it funny when our kids surprise us? Sounds like the magical disney spirit took hold of all of you!

[Erin]

what a great time!!! You really ARE a cool mom!!!!
You have a TON of patience!

[jeannej]

Sounds like you had a great time. As my daughter enters high school it sounds like we may be travelling to WDW from South Florida with a girlfriend or two of hers. I have been hestitant as my son ( who is 17 months younger) likes to pick on the girls. Sounds like your son did alright. Anyway, gave me something to think about.

Jeannej

[daisyd]

Thanks for the TR!

[Peppertink]

Wow! What a great TR....Sorry that your DH was not feeling well at first though. Sounds like everyone had a great time and you are a cool mom, even though you don't like stitch :( Thanks for an entertaining report!

[Disneyfever]

Great TR! It sounds like you and your family had a wonderful time. You really did a lot in three days!

[Dana]

Great report. You wore me out and I wasn't even there. Glad everyone had a good time and ever more glad that your DH was feeling better. Thanks for sharing it with us and make sure you post them whenever you go. You have a knack for the trip reports.

[tigger]

That might just be the longest single TR post yet...very entertaining to the end!

Glad DH didn't spend the whole time feeling sick

Thanks for the TR!

[Dopey]

Oh wow, I am glad that you finally decided to post a TR. Don't forget to do that after your fall trip. One could get hooked....

Thank you!

[cinderbella]

WHOOA you're TR wore me out and I wasn't even there!! I think I actually can feel the sunburn!
Sounds like you had a great time..I love the TR...keep going..and keep writing them..afterall you have 500 to make up for!!

[neen626]

Great TR! I can't believe all the things you packed into your hot crowded days!! I was feeling tired for you reading it.
Sounds like you had great fun glad the kids made it fun for you also!!

[Pooh Fan]

Your trip report was wonderful. It sounds like your family had a wonderful time.

[libade]

great tr - I really enjoyed reading it!