Goodbye, Florida!

JULY 15 - Seven days of luxury.  Four days of Disney magic.  One day of exploring. One day of first meetings.  A week for creating lifelong memories of a fabulous and cherished trip to Florida. 

But alas, it had to end sometime, right?

I finally got Ya's ears on him long enough to get a picture (though Mom snuck a shot that I love a little earlier in our trip - - stealth, Oma, stealth!). 

And then it was time to pack into the car and make the long treck towards home.

Disney: July 14: Hollywood Studios

Our last day at Disney was spent at Hollywood Studios.  The bus driver let us out in the parking lot and said he'd be back at 4:15pm - - the first pick up of the day.  I think I saw PopPop do some quick calculations about how long he'd have to suffer the heat of the park while pushing our rented stroller ($51 for four days!)for the last time. 

It was supposed to be a relaxing day of shows... and the map confirmed that kid-friendly attractions weren't as abundant at this park as they were at the two kingdoms.

First stop? The Fast Pass station for the Tower of Terror.  We picked up four passes - each with an hour window for use.  And a sweet smile from Chi with an equally sweet, "PopPop, will you ride with me?" saved me from having to get on the freakish elevator drop. Yeah! Sigh of relief.

While waiting, we caught the live performance of Beauty and the Beast.  Ya was totally engrossed in the show.

We decided to go character hunting again, and followed the signs to an indoor (yeah!) area that featured Magician Mickey (Fantasia?), Lotso (Toy Story 3), and the Incredibles.  We skipped Mickey (saw him at Animal Kingdom) and joined the long line for Lotso - the newest park character.  Lotso is apparently a bad guy on the movie who lures kids in offering hugs and smelling like fruit (strawberries?).  Great!  Lotso demonstrated his evil tendency by trying to smother Ya.

We missed photos and autographs of two of the Incredibles characters, but our consolation prize was Mrs. Incredible - who scared Ya, but excited Chi.

I tried the Disney Animator position out... but didn't quite get Dale right...

And then I oogled the awesome sketches from Disney movies of old.

This animator was busy coloring a cell for something with a super fine paint brush.

Back outside, Chi was happy to join the line for the Little Einstein's June and Quincy - - she used to watch the show "when I was a kid," afterall.

It was so neat to watch her dance and twirl with June.

When I spotted Handy Manny, I was overjoyed... it is Ya's favorite show on Playhouse Disney (and next up is Mickey Mouse Club House).  But poor Ya was essentially comatose and was totally unaware that his hero was there to give him a hand shake, hug or high five.  We got the autograph and picture anyway, and showed it to him when he woke up.

I asked Oma to get a picture of me on the giant ant and waited in the short line of kids whose parents were hoping to do the same thing.  Somehow, though, the pictures I got were blurry or missing much of the ant in the frame.  And the lady behind me in line - who had a conversation with me about how others were standing too close when folk were taking pictures and where therefore in these strangers photos - is smiling in my pictures as though she were posing with me. What?  I had to crop her and her son out of my picture, thereby further eliminating my ride from the shot.

Photo taking opportunities were cut short here, because as soon as the first drops of rain began to fall, attendants rushed us out of the attraction.  It's ironic, because rain was a big issue in the movie, too.

PopPop was already seated and eating at a restaurant, so we didn't have to run too far for cover.  Hollywood, unlike the other parks, pretty much shuts down in incliment weather.

So, we tried to busy ourselves with photos while waiting for 4:15 to get closer.  I know what you're thinking, any excuse I get for a photo I'm going to use it. Exactly!

After slipping on the slick curb en route the the restroom, Chi and I were a little leery of the park.  The rain had dampened our spirits tremendously.  But just as we walked outside the bathroom, we were confronted with the park's daily parade coming right at us!  Again, we had stumbled into prime viewing location.

One last photo op at the gas station where the strollers are returned, and we were on our way to wait for pick up.

In the parking lot, Ya resumed his disgruntled bus searching.  He pointed, he called out, "Wait. Stop! Bus?" to each driver as the buses passed us by on their routes.

Disney: July 13: Magic Kingdom

PopPop elected not to join us on the second trip to the Magic Kingdom, so Ya and the gals were alone on the adventure. 

We started on the bus, of course, then "all aboard the choo choo train" (as Ya likes to sing).  Daisy was right were she was supposed to be - - just inside the entrance and right before Main Street.

Oma and Chi stood wait in line, while Ya and I went to the Chapeau Hat Shoppe for ears and personalization (only $3!).  Ya helped me pick halographic-style ears and a blue cap - - complete customization, as you pay per part.

Oma caught this picture when we returned:

This is Ya's coy look...

He wasn't into Miss Daisy. But my darling Chi was ready to flash a prized smile!

Then a quick trip down Main Street, USA, past the Mayor and his town folk, and off toward Fantasyland.

Chi and Ya rode Cinderella's Golden Carrousel- each on his or her own horse.  And when Chi took off for her second ride, we saw this treasured sword...

Even as I look at this photo, Ya remembers, "Dis hot!"  And at the time he was very clear in saying, "Oww. Hot. Is stuck!" You are right, honey.  Mommy never should've suggested you try to pull the sword from the stone... but you were so cute in your ferocity.

Nearby was another street performance group.

And then we saw them!  Wendy Darling and Peter Pan appeared in front of us and their line was short!

And just around the corner from them was Cinderella's Fairy Godmother! Score one, two, and three more for the autograph book.

Was it wrong that the entire line chimed in to send an elderly man and his wheelchair-bound wife away when he line-cut?  Perhaps... but we waited yet another half hour in a line that really wasn't a line for a chance to meet Alice and the White Rabbit.

And during the wait?  First, Chi made Oma physically ill by spinning the tea cup around.

Then Oma sat in line while Chi tried to make me equally nausiated. I really don't remember the Mad Tea Party ride being quite so... active.

Somewhere between Fantasyland and Toontown, we ended up with lollipops. Sticky, big lollipops.

Staining, and ever stickier lollipops.  They were a great addition to our trip in close proximity to other park guests waiting in line for the Dumbo The Flying Elephant ride... can you say "sorry about your white pants, lady." ?

We rode the Walt Disney World® Railroad around the park, though none of us really knew why... The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh was a bit too childish for Chi and Ya was only momentarily interested in the slow moving animatronic characters.  A bathing suit (which we left at home after carrying it around for no reason for two days) would've been nice for the Donald's Boat water feature. Chi got her feet wet and ended up with pretty grizzly blisters the next morning.

Chi and I got on a roller coaster, The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm, and with a growth spurt of a few more inches, Ya could've joined us.

We ate at a super crowded fast food place called Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café and Ya wasn't a fan of the performing Cosmis Ray creature.  Tables were scarse and the attendants weren't helping get people seated.  I watched a woman in a wheel chair lose two tables before she and her sons were successful.  The food was excellent, though.  Oma ordered a turkey wrap with fresh greens.  I had a chicken Caesar salad.  And Yadon and Chi shared a child's chicken strips and French fries.  Yummy.

"it's a small world" was an absolute must ride.  I have no idea why.  It seemed so much more amazing in the recesses of my memory.  And the cast and song strangly reminded me of Tim Burton's 2005 rendition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Willie Wonka,  Willie Wonka, he's our favorite chocolatier!).

And after a long, carefree day of absolutely no planning, we were done.  Nope, we didn't hit many of the attractions, but it felt like we'd done it all.

We must've over done it, because by the time we got to the parking lot, Ya was bus spottin ("Dere one is, Ma-ma! Dere!" and then "Oh no!" when it wasn't ours).  Chi was tired of it all, too. 

See?

Official park areas explored:

•Liberty Square

•Fantasyland® area

•Mickey's Toontown® Fair area

Disney: July 12: Magic Kingdom

The mecca of Disney World has to be the Magic Kingdom.  It was our target destination for day two of the Disney park experience. 

We had every intention of catching the resort's bus earlier than the day prior, but it didn't happen.  In fact, I think we were later!  It worked in our favor though, because the park opening crowds had pushed through and the lines to get on the monorail to get to the kingdom weren't terrible (although they were still long).

And then we arrived!

I approached the day much like women (stereotypically, of course) conduct their shopping trips - walk with no specific item in mind, browse liesurely, and try on everything. 

The order of the day at this point is a little foggy... but here's what I can recall.

Splash Mountain was a perfect place for another Fast Pass.  What we didn't pay attention to, however, was that only one Fast Pass was allowed at a time... so we couldn't get tickets for future ride times on other attractions.  Bummer.  We busied ourselves in Agrabah while waiting our turn for the splash, but not by choice.  We were actually trying to find the Little Mermaid, but she was hiding from us.

It rained in Agrabah and we discovered that our dollar store ponchos (two for) from home were great covers for electronics, but were way too hot to wear for any length of time.  We enjoyed a ride on the magic flying carpets.

And tried to avoid being spit on by camels (like the one in the previous picture) as we went around.

We still had time to spend before our Fast Pass times, so we ventured further and ran into Princess Tiana's Garden.  She wasn't there, but a park person said she would be in the next half hour and we could start the line.  A chance to be first?  Ok!  Well, actually we were about the third family in line, but that's pretty good to see the newest Disney princess (Princess and the Frog). 

It was at this point that I noticed that the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience was quite popular.  One little girl was decked out - head to toe Tiana wear, glittered and slicked hai, and makeup!  She looked like one of the pageant girls and I felt my stomach tighten at the thought of my Chi looking so grown before her time (and at such an expense- $189 and up!).  Another family applied their own makeup and tiaras for the photo opportunity.  Then there was my Chi, jean shorts, tee shirt, hair in pig tails, Mickey ears in hand.  Still a child. And I loved seeing her this way - anticipating this special meeting with Tiana and excited about all that Disney was turning out to be.

Back to use our Fast Passes, I made a determination that my camera was accompanying me on the ride.  No more lost photos.

I simply tucked my camera into the poncho and shielded it from the splash at the ride's end. Success!

Leaving Splash Mountain, we stumbled upon a meet-up. Wait.  They weren't on the map or the schedule, were they?

As we were waiting for the opportunity to meet Woody and Jenny from Toy Story, I noticed the park employees roping off parts of the walkways.  A simple inquiry to the attendant (who closed the meet and greet line three guests behind us) said that the 3:00 parade "Celebrate" was coming through.  As it turned out, a VIP section had plenty of space behind it for people to stand and the parade was going to end right there.  How's that for a good spot?

Jiminy Cricket and Pinocchio

Their bad guys...

Mary Poppins!

Princess Belle

We still wanted to find Ariel, so we headed back toward Agrabah, past Pirates of the Carribean. Nope.  PopPop was frustrated, the kids were tired, and so?  I decided to try one last attraction. That makes sense, right?

And then, with the front gate of the kingdom as our goal, I stopped us again for the show about dream power.

The way I see it, you may be aggravated and tired now, but you'd be regretting what you could have experienced later if you just rushed through the park.

Official park areas explored:

•Main Street, U.S.A.® area

•Adventureland® area

•Frontierland® area