Weekend Fun, Disney Style! (Photo Journal)

[LadyJag]

Wow, what a great weekend! We took Friday off, headed to Disney World, and just returned Sunday evening. I'm really tired, but I have to say that was a GREAT weekend!

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

This was the first time we've ever been to the Halloween party, and it was AWESOME! Alyssa was Tinkerbell, so I created a Wendy Darling costume from Thrift Store finds, and Alex was a sport and dressed as Peter Pan. The weather was great! Warm, but not hot, and our costumes were light enough to keep us comfortable through the night.

Crowds were pretty minimal, and lines were short, but since we go to the park so often, we spent more time trick-or-treating and watching the parade (twice!) than riding the rides. However, we started out at Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, where Alyssa got to star as "Boo." She wasn't amused. LOL!

The parade was AMAZING! Alyssa LOVED it! She clapped and waved at the characters, and even danced around waving her fairy lightstick wand. She was really excited, especially during the second parade, because we had front row seats and she got lots of candy at the end.

Alyssa DIDN'T like the fireworks because of the noise, though, which surprised me, because she's loved all the other firework shows in our previous visits. Poor thing cried and covered her ears, and I felt her legs tighten around me with every BOOM! I was a little disappointed not to be able to see the show, but we got one of the character meet-n-greet rooms all to ourselves.

King Louie just LOVED Alyssa. It took her a little while, but she warmed up to him, then ran over to say hello to Timon and Rafiki. Also in the room were Tarzan and Jane, but Alyssa decided right as they said hello that she did NOT want to meet them! She settled for waving "bye bye" at them, and then exiting the building, but not before getting two more handfuls of candy from the treat bin at the exit.

Yes, we have 3 HEAVY bags of candy now! The wait for Space Mountain was only 5 minutes, so I let Alex ride while Alyssa and I visited one of the trick-or-treat stations in Tomorrowland...over and over again! I think we went through this particular treat station four times in a row. The cast members were very nice and always gave Alyssa extra treats, which she tried to eat right away, wrapper and all!  When I told her not to eat the wrapper, she handed me the candy and chanted "OPEN! OPEN! OPEN!"

I should mention that after the later parade, the place pretty much cleared out. It was awsome! Alyssa rode Dumbo twice without any wait.

Next door was a dance party, with only a few people there and Chip and Dale. Alyssa, being such a music lover, couldn't wait to hit the dance floor and boogie...well, after another visit to yet another candy station! Dale spotted Alyssa, got on his knees, grabbed her hands and boogied down with her. It was sooo cute!

I could go on and on about the party. Alyssa, who didn't nap at all that day, lasted through the whole thing, until we left the park just after 1:00 in the morning! I was glad I thought to bring her pajamas, and changed her into them after one last potty stop before leaving the Magic Kingdom. Alyssa was fast asleep in my arms on the walk back to our camp site, and all I had to do was lay her in the bed.

Our Construction Site At Fort Wilderness

So rennovations are happening at Fort Wilderness to expand the concrete pads for RVs. The new sites are really nice, but man, oh man, did we get put in the wrong place! I paid the AAA rate for a "premium" site that could accommodate travel trailers and had an upgrade to cable TV and internet availability. As we started setting up, one of several construction workers in our area told us the cable was unavailable. Apparently, these yahoos accidentally cut the cable while they were trying to expand some of the sites. Ummm...ok.

So I wanted to grab a shower at the comfort station, but the door was locked, and my key card would NOT work! Well, I decided I would take Alyssa and catch one of the buses back up to the front desk, get a new card, and see if they would compensate us for lack of cable that we paid for, while Alex grabbed a shower.

At the front desk, I got a lady who didn't speak English very well. I explained that I needed a new card because mine would not work, and that I was wondering if I could get a discount because our site didn't have cable as promised. She called someone and told me she couldn't give us a discount because we "already got one" through AAA, but that she could reprint a card for me. Whatever.

I waited 40 minutes for her to reprint my key card while Alyssa ran around with some other kids and watched Disney cartoons. I stood there at the desk and watched another family check in next to me. The cast member was really nice and gave their little girl a bunch of stickers and crayons and coloring books and deputy badges. She also quickly printed out multiple key cards and sent the family on their way while I STILL STOOD AT THE DESK WAITING FOR MY CARD!

Finally, after calling another cast member for help (twice), the lady at the desk handed over a key card for both me and Alex. OK...Alex didn't need a new card, but whatever. As I was rounding up Alyssa, I heard the lady call me back. "Your card have charging privileges or no?" she asked.

"No," I replied.

"Oh! Well, those cards do, but I can print you up some more without," she admitted.

"No, thank you!" I responded, "I really don't have another 40 minutes to wait for new cards."  And I left to prepare me and Alyssa for the Halloween party.

Saturday morning, after a late night in the park, I was awakened by Alyssa at 7:00 AM. She was crying and fussing for us to brush her teeth. Ummm...ok. I don't see how she could be so wide awake that early, because I was dog tired after getting only a couple of "naps" during the night, between Alyssa crowding me and Alex snoring!

After breakfast, Alex suggested I catch a few Z's while he took Alyssa on a bike ride to the playground. I agreed and reclined in a comfy chair outside by the fan. BIG mistake! The yahoo construction workers at the campground somehow managed to break the water main, and the sites around me started to flood!

The workers ran around with buckets and hoses, trying to drain the water into a huge ditch that they dug right next to our site. (I soon discovered that they also dug a huge pit right next to Alex's truck on the driver's side, too!) UGH! Once they had hoses hooked up for drainage, a lot of the crew decided to sit on their buckets and take a smoke break at the entrance to our campsite, so it wasn't long before I was coughing and gagging.

I went inside the camper to wash up and...NO WATER! The water main breaking took out all the water from the surround sites. Tired and outraged, I jumped on my bike and rode it to the front desk, but not before seeing one of the construction workers checking out a girl that was walking back to her campsite from the bath house. Yuck!

Back at the front desk, a cast member was directing people to the appropriate check-in area. He asked me what was wrong, and I told him "I paid for a premium site, and got a construction site!" Then I explained to him that there was no cable, no water, a construction crew smoking on my site, a lake forming AROUND my site, and a pit next to our vehicle that my toddler could easily fall into.

"I can move you to another site," he suggested.

"Well," I said, "We're checking out in the morning, and it's not worth it to pack everything up, move, and set up, only to pack it all up again tomorrow. I'm not looking for a free ride," I continued, "but I think I should get SOME sort of compensation."

So I threw a big enough stink to get one of our two nights for free, then biked it back around Lake Water Main to our camper. I spotted Alex and Alyssa on the ride back, and we took the back route to the camper, then carefully climbed into the truck and headed out to lunch.

Saturday, In The Park

After an exhausting night, and an already busy morning, we decided to take it easy Saturday. We had lunch at Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney, waved a final farewell to Pleasure Island (which opened for the very last time the night before), and met up with my brother and his family in Hollywood Studios.

Alyssa loved hanging out and playing with her cousins, even though our visit was pretty short. My brother had dining reservations at the yatch club, and my niece, Kelsey, was pretty beat. After we waved goodbye, Alex and I thought we'd check out the Food & Wine Festival in Epcot.

I took Alyssa on the boat from Hollywood Studios to Epcot, and Alex decided to move the truck from the studios' parking lot to the Boardwalk hotel near Epcot. (As it turned out, there was no parking available, so after driving around for a long time, he parked the truck back at the camp site, took the ferry to the Magic Kingdom, then hopped the monorail to Epcot.)

When Alyssa and I walked into Epcot, I was amazed at the sea of people there! I expected a crowd, but sheesh! People were flowing over the park like water from a broken water main! LOL! I didn't mind, though. We weren't in any rush to go anywhere or do anything, so we strolled leisurely through the mass of people who were already smelling of beer and BO (gross!), and made our way to Alyssa's favorite ride - the boat ride in the Mexico pavillion.

We rode the ride twice in a row, while Alex still made his way to the park. After the second trip, Alyssa was ready to move on, so I took her next door to the baby care center where we could wait for Alex away from the crowds and the hot 88-degree weather. Alyssa was thrilled to be able to watch cartoons and play with some of the toys in the play room, while I watched from a decent chair in the room.

Alex met up with us at the Baby Care center, and after a quick recap of our adventures, we decided to make our way to the front of the park and see if we could get dining reservations someplace casual that wouldn't require a bus transfer.

Alyssa must have been really tired, because she wanted me to carry her for most of the weekend. There were only a few times that she actually wanted to walk or ride in her stroller. Maybe it was the heat, but after walking only a little way, she stopped, turned around, and held her arms up for me to carry her. Groaning and sore, I leaned down and picked her up, then lugged her 27 pounds to Guest Relations by Spaceship Earth (the big golf ball). I tried to let Alyssa sit on the counter while we made reservations, but she clung to me and lay her head on my chest.

"Are you tired?" Alex asked Alyssa.

She shook her head "no," even as her eyes were rolling into the back of her head! Hee! Hee!

We told the cast member what we were looking for, and said that we didn't have to eat anywhere in Epcot, even, that we were staying at Fort Wilderness, so any place there or on the monorail line would work. He got us a late reservation at Trails' End restaurant back at the campground, which gave us enough time to catch the monorail back to the Magic Kingdom, then take the ferry back to the campground.

Alyssa was fast asleep in my arms, and I was parched, so Alex went to get us each a drink, while I started my slow, burdened trek to the front gate. At the exit, I spotted a Disney photographer and asked to get pictures taken of my Sleeping Beauty. He took a few closeups, then had me sit by the tea party garden for a special "surprise."

Alex met up with us a few minutes later, cold Diet Cokes in the stroller's cupholders. Woo hoo! I reclined the stroller and lay Alyssa in it, grabbed one of the drinks, and we strolled over to the monorail.

It was dark by the time we reached Trails' End, and Alyssa awoke just as we were entering the restaurant. She was NOT in a good mood and started to cry, but I calmed her down by telling her everything she did while she was asleep. ("You got your picture taken, and you rode the monorail and you rode a boat!")

Again, she didn't want to eat anything, but I managed to get a little food in her before giving her a piece of a brownie.

Afterwards, Alex took Alyssa to the playground next door while I waited for the check, sipped my hot peppermint tea, and relaxed. When I finished and paid the check, I walked outside and sat on a bench while Alyssa showed off her climbing skills. I heard music starting up at the beach nearby, and remembered that the electric water pageant came right past Fort Wilderness!

With Alex pushing the stroller, and me carrying Alyssa, we climbed a small hill and sat on the beach to watch the show. Alyssa was more interested in crawling around and playing in the sand than watching the water pageant, but we all had a good time. Afterwards, we saw the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom across the lagoon, and Alyssa took turns throwing sand, pointing at the fireworks, and dancing to the music. LOL!

Tinkerbell, The Movie

Sunday morning, after check-out, we had reservations for the Ohana character breakfast at the Polynesian hotel, then an early afternoon passholder-only screening of the new Tinkerbell movie that will be released to DVD in late October.

Again, I had to carry Alyssa as we walked through the Polynesian parking lot and to the restaurant, where we all received leis and had our picture taken. Alyssa loved the flowers and looking out the window while we waited for our table to be ready.

 

Once seated, we were greeted by Lilo, whom Alyssa wasn't too sure about, and Stitch, whom Alyssa didn't want to meet AT ALL! Then came Pluto and Mickey - two of Alyssa's favorites:

After breakfast (during which Alyssa barely ate anything), we took the monorail to the Magic Kingdom for the movie premier. Since we had a little time before our 1:00 check-in (the show was at 2:00), we rode the steam train all the way around the Magic Kingdom, then perused some of the shops on Main Street. Then, Alyssa and I walked over to Exhibition Hall while Alex made a bathroom pit stop. As we entered the hall, a cast member asked if Alyssa like Disney princesses, and when the last time she met a princess was.

I said, yes she did like princesses, but it had been several months since she met one. So he gave us a special personal meet-and-greet session with Cinderella. Alyssa was in awe!

We thanked Cinderella for her time, and as we left I told her what a lucky little girl she was to be able to meet Cinderella in person. She nodded an emphatic "Yes!" and grinned.

We then walked over to the theater doors, where we met up with Alex and checked into the theater. Inside, we had our choice of complimentary movie snacks, then filed into one of the theater rows up front.

The movie was great, and Alyssa was SO GOOD! She got a little restless the last 5 minutes of the 75-minute flick, and started crawling around and lying on the floor, but she didn't fuss or try to leave early. When the movie was over, the creators of the film came in to talk a little about its creation, and we were given the "inside scoop" on upcoming events and the new Pixie Hollow opening up in Toontown. Then, in came each of the fairies from the movie, including Tinkerbell.

Row by row, we were able to have our photos taken with the fairies, then get autographs from the movie creators. I introduced one of the producers to Alyssa and told her this was her very first movie experience. She signed a photograph to Alyssa, asked how old Alyssa is and how she did in the movie. I told her Alyssa was 2-1//2 and did great. She then told me she had two 2-year-old twins, and wasn't sure about taking them to a movie, but might consider it now.

Finally, before we left the Exhibition Hall, we were each handed an adorable LED light-up Tinkerbell clip, which Alyssa LOVED! She "flew" Tinkerbell all over the place as we made our way back to the monorail, then back to the truck, where she conked out.

 

 

[pinkcalla721]

Sep. 29, 2008 at 12:06 PM

You are so incredibly lucky to be able to go as often as you do with alyssa! I wish I could go do these kinds of things with my daughter! I struggle for things to do with her all the time. I have taken my daughter to the movies as a baby and she did great, absolutely no problems. I havent taken her to a movie in a while but want to.

I really enjoyed reading this and seeing all your pictures! so completely green with jeaulousy! LOL

By the way, the green shoes Alyssa is wearing with her tinker bell costume, where did you find them? I havent seen any like those around here. Ashley loves wearing her disney t shirts, loves the princesses a lot as well. Her favs are Minnie, Pluto, Daisy and of course Mickey. I'm trying to get her into Ariel and Tinker Bell.

[lkboles]

Sep. 29, 2008 at 12:29 PM

I am so jealous!!! I love Disney and haven't been in a couple years!!! I want to go so bad!!! Looks like ya'll had a good time!!!

[mshatch0613]

Sep. 29, 2008 at 12:56 PM

JEALOUSY hit when u left...i love your photos. these are great. i'm glad u had a good time. I'll have to wait til next year for our trip... life threw me big curve ball and now i have to figure it out.

[mathernmom87]

Sep. 29, 2008 at 2:17 PM

wow seems like you had a great time. i look forward to the day when we can take cayden to his first theme park. not sure what one but i cant wait.

[ZacsMom]

Sep. 29, 2008 at 2:27 PM

Sounds like you guys had an awesome time!  How jealous am I?!?  And your husband sounds like a saint that he dressed as Peter Pan! 

[Valinsmom]

Sep. 29, 2008 at 5:38 PM

Looks like you guys had a fun and eventful time.

[MamaOfB]

Sep. 30, 2008 at 8:08 PM

Wow!  and all in one weekend!  You are the Disney master.  Looks like Alyssa did great.  She must be a pretty easy going kiddo.  Glad you all had so much fun!  (Campsite aside.)

[heathermichelle]

Oct. 5, 2008 at 12:05 AM

Great pictures and great recap. I bet she had a blast. I really can not wait to go to take my son. It will be his first time ever.