TikiGoddess
07-30-2014, 09:15 AM
This year I've opted to do a summary of our vacation. I'm sure you all don't want to read the 9 pages of the original version I typed up... so here's the best stuff!
We spent 4 days at my in-law's house in Tampa before going to Disney, Sunday - Wednesday.
Magic Moments
Sunday was Epcot day. The best moment in the morning was at Soarin’. So for years I’ve been telling the kids that I’m going to catch the golf ball in Soarin’. And they keep telling me, Mom, it’s just a movie. You can’t catch the golf ball. But each year I keep trying. So FINALLY, this year, I CAUGHT THE GOLF BALL. I handed it to my older daughter, Julie, and you should have seen the look on her face. Amazement. Then she handed it to her sister, Katie, and the general feeling was “how did you DO that??” (Katie later told me she didn’t try very hard to catch the golf ball this year… and that next year she would definitely try harder)
Of course, they had their doubts. They are smart children and are 11 and 9. So after the ride I was questioned about how I came to catch the golf ball. Katie said we should ask a CM if it was possible. So I said, ok, let’s go ask. So we went out to the front desk and asked a nice CM there, “Is it possible to catch the golf ball on Soarin’?” And he confirmed that yes, indeed, you could catch the golf ball. Mommy triumphant.
On Sunday evening as we were reentering the park, who but ICOT’s own Christine (and her husband John) comes up to say hello! They were headed to the Sounds Like Summer concert series (2U). If you’ve never met Christine, she’s the friendliest and nicest person around. I hope we run into her again sometime (preferably at Ohanas).
On Monday we started at the Studios, then took a pool break at the hotel. Around 4pm, we headed over to the Magic Kingdom to use our FPs for the day. Unfortunately we had to deal with some stubborn rain and thunder/lightning over the course of the evening. We were lucky enough to have FPs for Mine Train AND to be right near the entrance when they reopened the ride after the lightning had passed. I was really impressed with the thrill level and the smoothness of the ride. It was much more exciting than I thought it would be. Lots of good drops. (I want to ride it some time when it’s not raining…) The AA figures were great too, and the cottage at the end was a really nice touch.
On Tuesday, Tinker Bell left us a special gift in our room – a monorail resort scavenger hunt, with two mystery envelopes as prizes. We had to find 5 specific things at each resort, each worth 5 points. Tim and Julie started at the Contemporary and Katie and I went to the Polynesian. (Wow, the Poly is in major rehab. It looks SO different. I can’t wait to see it done…) We all had a grand time going to each resort and trading pins, getting pressed pennies, leis, and taking pictures. Tim and Julie won by 5 points but no big deal, both kids got a prize of $10.
My other magical moment on Tuesday: I headed down to the front desk to see if they could locate Katie’s hat that she had lost at the Studios the day before. I ended up talking to Jeff and Joyce at the desk for about 30 minutes. Lost and Found had Jeff on hold for about 20 minutes and we spent the time sharing Disney rumors and stories. Towards the end, Joyce said she would like to give us a little magic in our vacation, and asked me what FP we would like for the next day! I chose to see Mickey on Main Street, as it was something that I really wanted to do. Jeff finally got through to Lost and Found but they didn’t have Katie’s hat. I filled out some paperwork so that if it did show up, they would sent it to us. (hasn’t shown up yet, a week later…) I did write an email to guest communications yesterday to praise Jeff and Joyce for going above and beyond in their duties. It was really wonderful to have two dedicated CMs helping me.
Priceless moment of the day: being able to meet our longtime friends and their family for dinner at the California Grill.
On Wednesday we spent the day at the Magic Kingdom and headed back to Tampa around 6pm. Breakfast at the Crystal Palace started the day off right. We wanted to ride Mine Train right at park opening but it was closed… so we went to see Ana and Elsa instead. Ana was very funny and talkative and Elsa did a great job talking to the girls. But as we left, Katie said, “People wait two hours for THAT?”
We had an awesome time riding Buzz, Splash, Thunder, and Space Mountain with our friends. The advance FPs made it all possible!
After saying goodbye to our friends, we split up – Tim had an appointment at the barber shop to get his hair cut. The girls and I went on one of their favorites, Carousel of Progress. We got a text from my husband saying that he was done so we went to Main Street. It was time to meet Mickey with our bonus FP! My husband had done some shopping in the Emporium – he bought himself 2 ties and got me a pin set… and a Safari Duffy bear! When he pulled him out of the bag I admit to shedding a few tears. My husband always knows what I want but will not buy for myself.
So on this emotional note, we went to see Mickey. It was wonderful. Mickey greeted each of us and talked to us about the Haunted Mansion. We had our picture taken like the hitchhiking ghosts. As we were leaving we heard Mickey say, “hurry back…” I couldn’t stop smiling after that.
We spent 4 days at my in-law's house in Tampa before going to Disney, Sunday - Wednesday.
Magic Moments
Sunday was Epcot day. The best moment in the morning was at Soarin’. So for years I’ve been telling the kids that I’m going to catch the golf ball in Soarin’. And they keep telling me, Mom, it’s just a movie. You can’t catch the golf ball. But each year I keep trying. So FINALLY, this year, I CAUGHT THE GOLF BALL. I handed it to my older daughter, Julie, and you should have seen the look on her face. Amazement. Then she handed it to her sister, Katie, and the general feeling was “how did you DO that??” (Katie later told me she didn’t try very hard to catch the golf ball this year… and that next year she would definitely try harder)
Of course, they had their doubts. They are smart children and are 11 and 9. So after the ride I was questioned about how I came to catch the golf ball. Katie said we should ask a CM if it was possible. So I said, ok, let’s go ask. So we went out to the front desk and asked a nice CM there, “Is it possible to catch the golf ball on Soarin’?” And he confirmed that yes, indeed, you could catch the golf ball. Mommy triumphant.
On Sunday evening as we were reentering the park, who but ICOT’s own Christine (and her husband John) comes up to say hello! They were headed to the Sounds Like Summer concert series (2U). If you’ve never met Christine, she’s the friendliest and nicest person around. I hope we run into her again sometime (preferably at Ohanas).
On Monday we started at the Studios, then took a pool break at the hotel. Around 4pm, we headed over to the Magic Kingdom to use our FPs for the day. Unfortunately we had to deal with some stubborn rain and thunder/lightning over the course of the evening. We were lucky enough to have FPs for Mine Train AND to be right near the entrance when they reopened the ride after the lightning had passed. I was really impressed with the thrill level and the smoothness of the ride. It was much more exciting than I thought it would be. Lots of good drops. (I want to ride it some time when it’s not raining…) The AA figures were great too, and the cottage at the end was a really nice touch.
On Tuesday, Tinker Bell left us a special gift in our room – a monorail resort scavenger hunt, with two mystery envelopes as prizes. We had to find 5 specific things at each resort, each worth 5 points. Tim and Julie started at the Contemporary and Katie and I went to the Polynesian. (Wow, the Poly is in major rehab. It looks SO different. I can’t wait to see it done…) We all had a grand time going to each resort and trading pins, getting pressed pennies, leis, and taking pictures. Tim and Julie won by 5 points but no big deal, both kids got a prize of $10.
My other magical moment on Tuesday: I headed down to the front desk to see if they could locate Katie’s hat that she had lost at the Studios the day before. I ended up talking to Jeff and Joyce at the desk for about 30 minutes. Lost and Found had Jeff on hold for about 20 minutes and we spent the time sharing Disney rumors and stories. Towards the end, Joyce said she would like to give us a little magic in our vacation, and asked me what FP we would like for the next day! I chose to see Mickey on Main Street, as it was something that I really wanted to do. Jeff finally got through to Lost and Found but they didn’t have Katie’s hat. I filled out some paperwork so that if it did show up, they would sent it to us. (hasn’t shown up yet, a week later…) I did write an email to guest communications yesterday to praise Jeff and Joyce for going above and beyond in their duties. It was really wonderful to have two dedicated CMs helping me.
Priceless moment of the day: being able to meet our longtime friends and their family for dinner at the California Grill.
On Wednesday we spent the day at the Magic Kingdom and headed back to Tampa around 6pm. Breakfast at the Crystal Palace started the day off right. We wanted to ride Mine Train right at park opening but it was closed… so we went to see Ana and Elsa instead. Ana was very funny and talkative and Elsa did a great job talking to the girls. But as we left, Katie said, “People wait two hours for THAT?”
We had an awesome time riding Buzz, Splash, Thunder, and Space Mountain with our friends. The advance FPs made it all possible!
After saying goodbye to our friends, we split up – Tim had an appointment at the barber shop to get his hair cut. The girls and I went on one of their favorites, Carousel of Progress. We got a text from my husband saying that he was done so we went to Main Street. It was time to meet Mickey with our bonus FP! My husband had done some shopping in the Emporium – he bought himself 2 ties and got me a pin set… and a Safari Duffy bear! When he pulled him out of the bag I admit to shedding a few tears. My husband always knows what I want but will not buy for myself.
So on this emotional note, we went to see Mickey. It was wonderful. Mickey greeted each of us and talked to us about the Haunted Mansion. We had our picture taken like the hitchhiking ghosts. As we were leaving we heard Mickey say, “hurry back…” I couldn’t stop smiling after that.