Cam's Golden Birthday Adventure **Updated 8/23** COMPLETE About This Page:

[janicelovesmickey]

nice update, I do love pinochhios.

[coffeechef]

Just catching up with your trip report... I am going to guess the Hall of presidents. IASW 5X yikes I had to do it twice in a row once for scaring the crap out of my 8 yr old nephew on the haunted mansion. I don't know aqbout 5X though. SOunds like a great start to your trip and I know that feeling of walking into the MK. Its so wonderfull of a feeling. Meeting the Cricket ... too cool. Can't wait to hear more about this trip

[Cam22]

What ride do we revisit after a three or four year hiatus?

Sorry folks about the delay in an update, but I became obsessed about getting our 2008 scrapbook done. It is officially finished, all 44 pages, so now I’ve got to get this trip report going again before all my memories fade.

As we exited Haunted Mansion, Luke asked if we could ride the Liberty Belle Riverboat as we hadn’t been aboard in quite a few years. (Dyan guessed this one right). When we approached the landing, we discovered that the boat had just launched and the next ride would be in half an hour. So what to do while we waited, of course, visit Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe (one of mine and Stefanie’s favorite stores). Before entering the shop, I took a few pictures of Luke and Stefanie in the Santa’s sleigh. Unfortunately, the sun was so bright that Stefanie had a really hard time keeping her eyes open.



But I may still use the one of Luke and Stefanie for some of our Christmas cards.

Then it was inside to find the perfect ornament to commemorate this trip. I found it almost instantly, but still surveyed the entire store to be absolutely sure. The one we chose had already been dated “2008” and has Mickey and Minnie in red flannel carrying a Christmas tree. This seems most fitting as we stayed this year at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge. I also picked up two more antenna toppers for my collection: a sombrero for Cinco de Mayo and a red, white, and blue Mickey head with fuzzy headdress for the 4th of July. With our purchases made and stashed in my messenger bag, we were off to ride the boat.

We were able to walk right on to the boat and found a spot along the railing on the level where we had entered. I was hoping to get some cool shots of other rides and attractions as we circled Tom Sawyer Island. This is actually a very pleasant ride and gives excellent views of Liberty Square and Frontierland. So here are some of my photos of Tom Sawyer Island.



I also got some neat shots of Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain.



I was hoping to do a layout for Haunted Mansion this year and thanks to the cool shots I got from the boat, I do think mine is awesome. Here are those shots.



As we returned to the dock, I snapped a few of the Liberty Belle Riverboat itself.


Stefanie making a goofy face.


Having taken care of most of Fantasyland and Liberty Square, we now headed for Tomorrowland. First up was Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Until Toy Story Midway Mania this had always been Stefanie’s absolute favorite, but it has lost some of its luster now. Our ride was stopped a couple of times, but Stefanie and I still didn’t do so well while Luke topped out at the maximum score with the first wait.



Having done poorly at saving the universe, we opted to next take a leisurely journey around Tomorrowland on the TTA. Stefanie enjoys this one after the initial fast turn.


She has that I’m going to be scared look, but then once it settles down to cruise speed she begins to smile.

I took a few shots of other Tomorrowland attractions.


Then it was time to head back to Wilderness Lodge for our dinner reservation at Whispering Canyon Café. Taking a bus back, we arrived a bit ahead of our scheduled time, but enjoyed relaxing on a sofa in the lobby. Soon we were paged and taken to a seat at the very back of the restaurant, probably because I had to list Stefanie as an adult, so we are far removed from all the fun and games. We ordered the Canyon Skillet that we had had 4 years ago, but we were not as pleased with it this time. Everything was delicious, but we’ll probably order separate items on future visits. During our dinner, a security cast member was on patrol and issued a citation to Stefanie for having more fun than the law allowed, having a magical gathering at WDW, impersonating a princess, and mousellaneous offenses. She truly looked frightened until he explained that it was all in fun.



After dinner we headed back to the room for a brief break and to figure out what to do next. We hadn’t ridden Splash Mountain in 3 years and it is one of Luke’s favorites. Stefanie hates it and I’m really not fond of rides that get me wet. I’ve just never gotten the point. Maybe it’s my neatness gene. But we had promised him he would get to ride it this year, and I would go with him while Stefanie waited at the gift shop. Stefanie’s vote was to stay in the room and watch TV, but I figured we had several hours of evening left before we should call it quits. I voted with Luke to go ride Splash Mountain. Little did I know that this one ride would consume the rest of the evening and create loads of internal tension or I’d voted differently.

We headed back to MK and now I can’t remember if it was by bus or boat. Once through bag check and the ticket turnstiles, we headed up the steps to the train station for a ride around the park to Frontierland and Splash Mountain. Within 10 or 15 minutes we were to the back of the park and all Luke’s encouragement to Stefanie that she would enjoy Splash Mountain had not convinced her to ride. The FastPasses available were for 9:00; it was around 7:30 now and the Standby Time said 45 minutes (big fib). So we decided to just get in line and move Stefanie to the shop when we got closer. Stefanie manages waits of about 20 – 30 minutes without us pretty good, but this wait turned into over an hour and that was after she had already waited 20 minutes in line with us before we headed her into the shop. She and I kept in phone contact about every 15 minutes until I lost reception inside the mountain. In hindsight, we should have FastPassed this one as we didn’t ride until around 9:00 anyway. By the time we got back to Stefanie, she had called every family member and updated them on the Disney trip. She was actually fine, but I may have gotten an ulcer as I worried that I was an irresponsible mother. She is 22 and she can take care of many of her own needs, but she is just so small and doesn’t always understand what adults who don’t know her and her special needs are trying to tell her. When it comes to rides like this, I’m simply torn as I don’t want her to do anything that scares her and I don’t want Luke to have always ride alone. As I said, she was as cheerful as a lark when we got back, but Luke and I took awhile to loosen back up. In fact, none of us wanted to stay any longer. We did stop by Aloha Isle, but I was no longer in the mood for a Dole Whip, but got Stefanie and Luke both a coke and we began the trek out of the park.

But as we headed down Main Street, we did stop at the Emporium Complex to pick up some really cute blank cd’s with Mickey on them. I needed these to store all the pictures I was taking. Then it was off to the boat dock for a calming ride back to the Lodge.

Once back Stefanie talked us into stopping at the gift shop and we did need some breakfast food for later in the week. We had ‘Ohana reservations for the next morning, but now seemed a good time to get supplies. We picked up some Pop Tarts and soft drinks as well as WL pins for Stefanie and me and my favorite snack at WDW – chocolate covered peanuts. I got a final picture of the day of Stefanie with the totem pole.



With the tension eased and all of us exhausted, we decided it was bedtime. Luke made the arrangements for a 6:45 wake up call, Stefanie grabbed the remote and began watching the DVC shows, and I got everything laid out for the morning. Then my head hit the pillow and I was out until the phone range 7 hours later.

Will we get Soarin’ FastPasses or not?

[KrisLuvsDisney]

Great update, Cam. You know in all the trips we have taken to WDW, we have NEVER been on the Liberty Belle Riverboat You got some wonderful pics on the ride

I can imagine how stressed you were while on Splash and Stefanie was in the shop. I can all see her making all those phone calls and sharing the trip with your families She is just too much

Looking forward to your next update

[mcc0313]

I was so happy to see an update and they were well worth it. What a wonderful day at MK (except for the wait at SM) - glad that Stefanie took it all in stride. Pinnochio's is one of our favorites as well (even though the food is nothing special) but I love the atmosphere and it is always so nice and cool which is great on a hot day.

Loved your pictures from the Riverboat Cruise - this was one of the things on my list that we missed last week - loved getting to travel on it through your wonderful photos.

Looking forward to more...

[DyanKJ130]

WOO!!HOO!! I got it right!! Great update! You got some wonderful shots while you were on the Liberty Belle. It's funny how in some of your photos it looks like no one is around and then in the next one there are people all over the place! I'm your meal at WCC was a bit of a disappointment. Glad to hear Stefanie managed okay while you and Luke were stuck in the SM queue. Can't wait to hear more

And, my 50/50 guess for your next installment... You get FPs (Based on tonight's events)

[chezp]

Wonderful update - and congrats on getting your scrapbook completed.

[lauren-roxy]

Great update Cam!!! How exciting to finish your scrapbook!!

[lindawdw]

Just got caught up with your TR Cam and I'm really enjoying it! Glad you were able to get a room with a view that you liked at WLV! It sounds like the trip is going very smoothly so far and glad to hear that you got to do SM with Luke. It sounds like Stefanie was enjoying calling relatives and relaying the highlights of the trip so far. Can't wait for more.

[Colexis Mom]

Great update Cam!! What a great afternoon in MK Great pictures too! Sounds like a good dinner, and I'm sorry about the long wait at SM Glad Stefanie was okay Hurry back with more

[MickeyMAC]

Great update Cam. Congratulations on getting your scrapebook finished! Your pictures on the Liberty Bell are great. Sorry your meal was a little disappointing. Looking forward to Day 3.

[disneydani]

Glad you enjoyed a ride on the Liberty Belle...great pics, BTW! How stressful to be seperated from Stephanie for more than you were comfortable although sounds like she did a great job!

danielle

[RobDVC]

Sorry to hear about the wait at Splash Mountain. Glad to hear that Stefanie was not phased at all by your longer-than-expected wait.

[KandJluvdisney]

great update cam
sorry it was such a long ride for splash
hurry back with more please

[Lorraine515]

I'm lovin' your TR and your pictures are GREAT too!!