Cindy'smom
03-02-2008, 01:52 PM
Up and at ‘em! Let’s get going! I should pause here to explain. DH doesn’t quite share my enthusiasm for Disney. He enjoys going south in the winter, enjoys being on vacation, but just doesn’t get it. He really thought our first Disney trip would be a once in a lifetime trip. Unfortunately for him, I caught the “bug” on that trip and have returned annually. I get my fix between trips visiting Intercot periodically and dreaming about and planning my next trip. I know you all get it, but he just doesn’t. He also does not understand my Disney touring style. His idea of vacation is sleeping in, going out to breakfast, perhaps a nap, and then moseying out to the parks. I’m at the gate ˝ hour prior to opening. Period. I made a promise to my family that if they would just humor me and let me push them to be at the park for opening and push them a little for the first hour, I would back off. It’s morning and it’s my time! I packed breakfast so we could eat in the room and expedite our morning departure.
Not realizing that Magic Kingdom busses run very frequently in the morning, we were at the bus stop bright and early. A bus was waiting for us. We were the only family on board and we went directly to Magic Kingdom. No stopping at the other bus stops at the resort or POFQ. Weird. I believe that got us to MK around 8:00. As we pull up, my excitement is only mildly hampered by the thought that when DH realizes we are an hour early, he will want to kill me. Plenty of time to snap pictures and enjoy being here without many people around. I was in my glory! Several families were entering MK for breakfast, but we were the very first at the regular turnstiles. We chatted with the cast member for a few minutes before she turned around to have a conversation with the other cast member, nodding her head the whole time. Could it be? Could they be discussing? Are we? No. Not possible. Then she turned back to me and asked me what our family name was and could I please write it down with the state we were from. At this point I’m shaking because I know what is coming. She didn’t really explain what was going on but I knew. I think she was a bit surprised when I gave her a big hug and thanked her. They asked us to take a seat on a bench just inside the gates and wait for another cast member to come out to talk with us. My family still doesn’t understand but I know who we are…..the family for the day! Yes! :magic:
We were escorted inside and brought to a reproduction fire truck driven by Roy. He drove us around the circle, then up Main Street to tomorrow land. The whole while cast members are waving and saying “Congratulations!” He was a lovely man who loves his job. As we rode through a vacant tomorrow land (very cool!) he talked about how he does this twice a week and every time it is just as magical for him to drive a family through an empty Magic Kingdom. We stopped at the train station in Toon town, greeted by two more cast members. They took our certificate and the autograph book the DDs had been given and told us to enjoy the view of an empty toon town while we awaited his boss. Yep, that’s right. The big cheese himself. The cast member took my camera and started snapping away as the girls waited outside Mickey’s house and were greeted by Mickey himself, Pluto, Chip, Dale, Jiminy Cricket, Stitch, Mary Poppins and Bert, Alice, and the Mad Hatter. The characters were just great. They had all signed our Family of the Day certificate and the autograph book. After pausing for photos we were off to the train. I have several shots of DDs and Mickey Mouse walking hand in hand with no one around. Very magical! We boarded the train seated across from Mickey with the other characters at different places on the train. They all remained in character the whole train ride and were very, very entertaining. We received our instructions on when to wave and when to throw the confetti and were soon part of the opening show. It was so amazing! A cast member took pictures with our own camera from behind us while a photo pass photographer got shots from the crowd level. After the ceremony we paused for a few more pictures with Mickey and were then off to enjoy our magical day. How do you top that? Throughout the day several people waved to us and said, “thanks for opening the park,” or said to their children, “do you recognize the family that opened the park today?” The DDs thought that was pretty cool. I have to tell you, even DH had a few tears in his eyes. It was so amazing to see the DDs have this opportunity and be graced with such a magical experience.
The rest of our day was just wonderful. How could it not be? We started in Fantasyland with Peter Pan’s Flight as per tradition and did most of things we wanted to. I FINALLY got to try Astro Orbiter. I’ll bet it is really cool to ride after dark. Monsters Inc. Laughing Floor was cute. The skies opened and we fought rain for about three hours this day. I was concerned about keeping our certificate try and intact. I’m framing that baby! Crowds were as I expected. I found it challenging to walk together as a family sometimes. I’m sure it is quite frustrating to try to drive a stroller in those crowds. It is equally as frustrating to constantly be ran into and have my heels clipped by stroller drivers not paying attention to where they are going. Fast pass was necessary and utilized wisely this day. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was the hit of the day with the DDs today. “It’s the wildest ride in the WILDERNESS.”
We dined at Liberty Tree Tavern for the first time this evening. The food was really yummy and plentiful. The characters were relaxed and rotated through frequently. If a character wasn’t visiting us, there was always one in view. We were very impressed with our experience here and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. We wouldn’t hesitate to return here.
We stayed for SpectroMagic and Wishes this evening. They were amazing as usual. While waiting for Spectro we visited with a very nice family with two small DDs. Now that mine are getting older, it is really enjoyable to see the magic through the eyes of other little ones. The little girls were so patient, well behaved, and amazed.
We made our way out to the busses for another standing room only ride back “home.” What a magical day! This is one we will always remember. The magic is truly alive and well.
:mickey:
Not realizing that Magic Kingdom busses run very frequently in the morning, we were at the bus stop bright and early. A bus was waiting for us. We were the only family on board and we went directly to Magic Kingdom. No stopping at the other bus stops at the resort or POFQ. Weird. I believe that got us to MK around 8:00. As we pull up, my excitement is only mildly hampered by the thought that when DH realizes we are an hour early, he will want to kill me. Plenty of time to snap pictures and enjoy being here without many people around. I was in my glory! Several families were entering MK for breakfast, but we were the very first at the regular turnstiles. We chatted with the cast member for a few minutes before she turned around to have a conversation with the other cast member, nodding her head the whole time. Could it be? Could they be discussing? Are we? No. Not possible. Then she turned back to me and asked me what our family name was and could I please write it down with the state we were from. At this point I’m shaking because I know what is coming. She didn’t really explain what was going on but I knew. I think she was a bit surprised when I gave her a big hug and thanked her. They asked us to take a seat on a bench just inside the gates and wait for another cast member to come out to talk with us. My family still doesn’t understand but I know who we are…..the family for the day! Yes! :magic:
We were escorted inside and brought to a reproduction fire truck driven by Roy. He drove us around the circle, then up Main Street to tomorrow land. The whole while cast members are waving and saying “Congratulations!” He was a lovely man who loves his job. As we rode through a vacant tomorrow land (very cool!) he talked about how he does this twice a week and every time it is just as magical for him to drive a family through an empty Magic Kingdom. We stopped at the train station in Toon town, greeted by two more cast members. They took our certificate and the autograph book the DDs had been given and told us to enjoy the view of an empty toon town while we awaited his boss. Yep, that’s right. The big cheese himself. The cast member took my camera and started snapping away as the girls waited outside Mickey’s house and were greeted by Mickey himself, Pluto, Chip, Dale, Jiminy Cricket, Stitch, Mary Poppins and Bert, Alice, and the Mad Hatter. The characters were just great. They had all signed our Family of the Day certificate and the autograph book. After pausing for photos we were off to the train. I have several shots of DDs and Mickey Mouse walking hand in hand with no one around. Very magical! We boarded the train seated across from Mickey with the other characters at different places on the train. They all remained in character the whole train ride and were very, very entertaining. We received our instructions on when to wave and when to throw the confetti and were soon part of the opening show. It was so amazing! A cast member took pictures with our own camera from behind us while a photo pass photographer got shots from the crowd level. After the ceremony we paused for a few more pictures with Mickey and were then off to enjoy our magical day. How do you top that? Throughout the day several people waved to us and said, “thanks for opening the park,” or said to their children, “do you recognize the family that opened the park today?” The DDs thought that was pretty cool. I have to tell you, even DH had a few tears in his eyes. It was so amazing to see the DDs have this opportunity and be graced with such a magical experience.
The rest of our day was just wonderful. How could it not be? We started in Fantasyland with Peter Pan’s Flight as per tradition and did most of things we wanted to. I FINALLY got to try Astro Orbiter. I’ll bet it is really cool to ride after dark. Monsters Inc. Laughing Floor was cute. The skies opened and we fought rain for about three hours this day. I was concerned about keeping our certificate try and intact. I’m framing that baby! Crowds were as I expected. I found it challenging to walk together as a family sometimes. I’m sure it is quite frustrating to try to drive a stroller in those crowds. It is equally as frustrating to constantly be ran into and have my heels clipped by stroller drivers not paying attention to where they are going. Fast pass was necessary and utilized wisely this day. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was the hit of the day with the DDs today. “It’s the wildest ride in the WILDERNESS.”
We dined at Liberty Tree Tavern for the first time this evening. The food was really yummy and plentiful. The characters were relaxed and rotated through frequently. If a character wasn’t visiting us, there was always one in view. We were very impressed with our experience here and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. We wouldn’t hesitate to return here.
We stayed for SpectroMagic and Wishes this evening. They were amazing as usual. While waiting for Spectro we visited with a very nice family with two small DDs. Now that mine are getting older, it is really enjoyable to see the magic through the eyes of other little ones. The little girls were so patient, well behaved, and amazed.
We made our way out to the busses for another standing room only ride back “home.” What a magical day! This is one we will always remember. The magic is truly alive and well.
:mickey: