My Best Trip Ever! A Disney Trip 10 Years in the Making About This Page:

[OhToodles!]

What a great dinner! And I'm glad you got to see Illuminations even if it's not your favorite.


And as far as school goes. I thought the same thing with Dylan - that there was some sort of problem. Basically he just wanted to stay home with us.

[honeybee723]

I think Illuminations is my second favorite show with Wishes being my favorite. I do like Fantasmic though, but Illuminations is still pretty fantastic...especially the holiday version. Glad you got a good spot to enjoy it though, despite the ear bug.

[Jessie092408]

12 birthday surprises in one trip isn't bad at all! I'm glad you all had a good dinner at 1900 Park Faire. David and I have eaten there at breakfast, but not dinner. Maybe next year we'll go at dinner time so we can meet Lady Tremaine.

[mommapants]

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Glad you had a great time at 1900 PF!

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

Looks like a great dinner at PF! We've never done that one, and think we'd all enjoy the stepsisters.

I LOVE Illuminations - it is probably my favorite. Especially if you listen to the words in the narration and music. I cry like a baby every time I hear "We Go On".

I can never hear the words or narration - I should look for it on CD.

Originally Posted by KMB733

What a great time at 1900!!! I think it's so cute that Evan likes to draw pictures for the characters!

He is a cutie!

Originally Posted by lazanya

What a fun time at PF!!

it was.

Originally Posted by disneyfreeeak

I just read your entire report from (basically) start to finish after getting behind. I, too, am extremely impressed with how you felt with all the drama--I wouldn't have been the same way at all! And I am so glad Evan (who is so stinking adorable by the way) got the birthday surprises he deserved for wearing that pin .

My step dad used to say he got tired of the taste of his own blood from biting his tongue. I have to admit I felt that way once or twice - but really would good would it have done?

Originally Posted by lauriep

The character interaction at dinner is priceless! As great as the characters are, they get so much better with a little help, which Evan gave them with his drawings. SO SWEET!! An even dozen birthday surprises from wearing the pin--Not bad at all!!

Not bad at all. I know the face characters can really play it up more than the fuzzy ones.

Originally Posted by JKnott17

Sounds like a great time at 1900 PF. Gotta love those stepsisters, they are a riot! I can't believe it's your last day tomorrow

Me too - so sad. I'm sad just thinking about it and we have be home for months.

Originally Posted by OneLittleSpark

LOVE the character interactions at 1900 PF. Just love that place!! They make that meal worth every penny...food's pretty good too, but I go for the characters!
Christine had NO idea what she was missing, but I am sure you did! That is all, I won't be mean again!

About the LK on Broadway, really? As soon as Rafiki came out and at the end with the big drum....ugh, I get goosebumps! LOVE it! Although, I have made the rule that we are seeing some other show before I will consider LK again. My DD has been to the theatre 2 times and both times were LK. Next time I am thinking, Beauty & the Beast or Mary Poppins, depends what's around when I have the money. OH! AND...not a year we are doing WDW. When it's a WDW year, every extra dollar goes to that, and we don't do anything if it's not free!

Can't wait to hear about the end of your vacation. It seems like it just started...well except for....nevermind.

I took Evan to Mary Poppins last year and we are doing B&B in June. I'll be taking to see LK when it comes to Philly but don't know when that will be.

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

What a great dinner! And I'm glad you got to see Illuminations even if it's not your favorite.


And as far as school goes. I thought the same thing with Dylan - that there was some sort of problem. Basically he just wanted to stay home with us.

I asked Evan one day and he said he wanted to stay with me. I don't think he understands that I go to work all day and I'm not at home.

Originally Posted by honeybee723

I think Illuminations is my second favorite show with Wishes being my favorite. I do like Fantasmic though, but Illuminations is still pretty fantastic...especially the holiday version. Glad you got a good spot to enjoy it though, despite the ear bug.

I do like illuminations but like others better - thanks

Originally Posted by Jessie092408

12 birthday surprises in one trip isn't bad at all! I'm glad you all had a good dinner at 1900 Park Faire. David and I have eaten there at breakfast, but not dinner. Maybe next year we'll go at dinner time so we can meet Lady Tremaine.

It was a really fun meal. You should try it. although I hear the Mad Hatter at breakfast is good too.

[mcc0313]

We love 1900 Park Fare...the interaction is great and the food is very good too. We don't have it on the list for July this year, figured we would try something we have not done for awhile but now reading about your great meal....I think I need to try to fit it in. I think we will miss it...

[mommapants]

Saturday 10/22 Part 1
“Saying good bye to the MagicKingdom”

Today was our last full day of vacation – how sad. Evan and I headed into MK by ourselves. I think everyone else was sleeping in. What?! I don’t understand that. It was our last day and I wanted to get as much of the magic as I could. Like an addict getting on last hit before heading into rehab.

I don’t think it was EMH but I can’t remember now. We took the ferry for the first time. It is amazing that the ferry, tram and monorail are all like rides by themselves.







I had to lighten this one so you could see Evan, the sky wasn't this bright yet.

We got there early and were able to catch the opening show. My plan was to let Evan do all his favorites one last time and then head to Epcot to be there around 11am for the opening of WS.

It was not crowed this morning and we hopped on one of the Main Street vehicles-horse drawn. When we got off at the hub the Main Street Fire Truck was there. Any of you who know Evan know there was no way in heck he was going to pass this up. The driver waited a few moments and I got some of Evan.
PHOTO






Then it was straight into Fantasyland for Dumbo and Peter Pan. Then over to Tomorrowland for 2 more rides on the race cars (sorry guys I still want to call it the Grand Prix) –whatever they are called now. Next was Buzz and last but never least was the Wed Way.

As we were exiting the park the Trolley show was going on so we saw a little of that and had a couple photopass pictures taken.

On a side note I was not impressed with the photopass photographers. This one I asked to get a different view rather than the castle as we already had that and he was at a loss. Like no one had ever asked him that before. I said could we get one with the train station behind us and he was like – Oh – yea, and the trolley show is going on so you could get that too. The pictures he took were awful. This is the best one and I’m making a face. Either Evan or I were making a face or not looking at the camera in all his shots. When looking at some of the other photopass pictures from the trip some were burry or the colors where strange, Evan had almost a yellowy tint to his skin. Overall, I was just not that happy with them.

After that it was a slow and sorrowful exit from my most favorite place in all “The World” and in all the actual world.

We hopped the monorails over to Epcot and texted to see when everyone else was joining us. We had some time as they were finishing breakfast so I went to get a Kim Possible mission. I thought the kids would enjoy it, we got Norway.

I took Evan over to Innoventions and we went to….dun dun dun…Where’s the Fire of course. He saw a big Fire truck and that was all she wrote. We did where’s the fire, twice and then made our way over to WS.


I wanted to start in Mexico because one, we had a Kim Possible for Norway and two, most people gravitate to the right so I wanted to go to the left. My sister texted me they would meet us in UK. I told her to go to Mexico but apparently some of her group had already done that side. This is the problem with texting. Jill didn’t realize that Canada was the first country to the right. Sometimes you just can’t communicate the same in a text as on the phone or in person.

Evan and I go into Canada and I get him a Duffy to color and we checked to see if Princess Sharon’s home was OK. It was and we moved along. I got a drink and some popcorn for us to share and we poked along to the UK.

Now it was F&WF and it was just ungodly crowded. Before we left on the trip and all my touring plans had us avoiding WS on Friday night or Saturday as I knew how crowded it would get. But best laid plans, right? Here we were, Saturday afternoon, braving the crowds of the F&WF.

Evan and I were not quite to the UK when the group caught up with us. We started to back track back to Canada. The popcorn I had bought was sitting on the sunshade part of the stroller and Gunnar comes up and just grabs a handful and begins eating it. I was shocked. He didn’t ask and Christine didn’t say anything too him. It was a very “aggressive” grab, almost needy. It reminded me of the scene in the movie the Miracle Worker when Heller Keller (Melissa Gilbert) is just grabbing food off of everyone’s plate and shoveling it into her mouth like a deranged psycho. I don’t know it's hard to explain. Anyway – I just found it rude and at the end of a vacation when patience is wearing thin, it bothered me. I asked Gunnar if he wanted some popcorn. He said yes and then I gave him some.

I always bring with me 3oz paper cups so I was able to scoop him a cup and that way his grubby hands were not in the bag. As we were walking back to Canada Gunnar was pulling the ice out of the big containers that hold the spray bottles and eating it. – Gross! Christine told him to stop it but I saw him do that at least 2 more times.

We made it to Canada and watched O’Canada. I hadn’t seen this in a long time, not since the update with Martin Short. I liked it about the same as I had before. I can take it or leave it. As we exited the other kids got a Duffy and we colored for a few moments at the Kidcot stop.

Now here is another reason why I think Gunnar may be on the autism spectrum. He is 6, Eric is 6 and Evan is 5 and all 3 were coloring. Gunnar was very intense – focused on nothing else and then had a meltdown when it was time to move on because his bear wasn’t finished. We explained to all 3 kids you do a little in each country. Evan and Eric were like “fine, let’s move on” but Gunnar was obsessive about it.

Up next was the UK…

Coming Up Next
“Things just go from bad to worse”

[mommapants]

Originally Posted by mcc0313

We love 1900 Park Fare...the interaction is great and the food is very good too. We don't have it on the list for July this year, figured we would try something we have not done for awhile but now reading about your great meal....I think I need to try to fit it in. I think we will miss it...

What are trying that is new this time? perhaps it is just as good or better as 1900PF

[OneLittleSpark]

I love your idea of reversing the picture! When I saw it, I thought "Where is that? I know where it is.." That would be really neat if the photpass photog got it right! Ugh. I think I might steal that idea next time!

Loved the pic of Evan on the ferry despite that you had to lighten it. Something in his little face....awe.

At this point, honestly Holly...I don't think it would be a complete TR entry without something from CHristine and her boys.

Hope you were able to move on and see some more stuff without too much trouble!

[lauriep]

It's great that you and Evan had some twosome touring at MK before being joined by the family. Seeing the opening ceremony and then sitting on a fire truck?? Evan looks like one happy boy. I've already said enough about Christine and her kids, but you're amazing for lasting out the whole trip still speaking to each other.

[KMB733]

Glad you got to spend a little one on one time with Evan at MK!!! At this point in the trip, I would have lost it with Christine and the boys.

[chezp]

All caught up again. I can't believe this is nearly over.

[Cam22]

More catching up today! Great dinner at 1900 Park Fare! Great start to your last full day. Love the pictures of Evan with the fire engine at MK! We went to the F
&WF ona Saturday once, too. Ungodly crowded is a good description.

[JKnott17]

Beautiful pictures from your ferry ride over to MK, love that early morning sky. I'm sorry that you were unhappy with your photopass pics, I really wish that there was some consistency with the photographers. Sometimes you get a really good one who takes a ton of poses and they all come out great, then you get that one photographer who just seems clueless. I give you a ton of credit for not blowing up at Christine and her kids by now, I don't think I would have been able to bite my tongue for that long!

[honeybee723]

I have to agree with you about the photopass photogs. Sometimes the pictures turn out great, but 90% of the time I think they're your run of the mill picture. That's why I don't buy the CD, and I usually only buy one or two actual photopass pictures. I'm just not impressed.

[mommapants]

“Things just go from bad to worse”

We moved along to the UK and I thought the kids would enjoy doing the Kim Possible Mission so we picked up a new FP for the UK and were able to play right then. Let me tell you this was a complete disaster. I think the kids enjoyed it okay but half way through I was like “What were you thinking?”.

We got the Kimmunicator and I needed to explain the concept to everyone. Problem #1 was no one – including me – had ever watched the show so we had no idea who was good/bad or what was happening.

I laid down the law that they would each take a turn and we would go in age order starting with the youngest. I figured if it turned out in the end to be an uneven number of turns the older children would understand better than the younger.

Evan was up first and of course he holds the “phone” up to his ear so no one else can see anything or hear the instructions. I’m trying to help him but there are 5 heads leaning in and I can’t see it or hear it. I’m trying to keep everyone together but not be totally in the way. After a little muttering under my breath “who’s idea was this” we get familiar with what is going on and the kids are off on the adventure.

Jill and Mom are following along, Evan, Eric, Gunnar, Bryson and Megan are playing (in that order). Steve, Aaron and Christine were relaxing in the shade on a bench somewhere near IG.

The kids get the clue and get a golf ball out of a phone booth and are now in one of the stores looking for a crest or something. They are not listening and there are 5 bodies going in 5 different directions at the speed of light. A little more muttering and we ask the CM’s to point us in the right direction.

Next person’s turn and each time there is a battle as the adult can’t hear because there is all this bickering and 5 little heads in the way. A few more turns and more muttering.

We now are heading to the back of the pavilion to see a mailbox or something. Bryson and Evan are sort of running, well jogging really. Which we told them not to do already but what do we know, we are just adults. Well Evan as I noted before likes to run in zig-zags and he cuts Bryson off and they both get tripped up and fall. No one was hurt thankfully. When I said “that is why you are not supposed to be running” Bryson started giving me an attitude saying he wasn't running. I had just watched him do it with my own eyes. I just tried to ignore it me being the adult and all and just move on but I was reaching my boiling point. It was too hot and crowded and my patience was just about gone.

We get to some window that is suppose to fill up with water or the shades open or something else and then we move along for what is thankfully the last transmission and miracle of miracles it is Megan’s turn, which means everyone has had 2 turns.

We get to the final spot and Bryson doesn’t want to give Megan the communicator. He keeps arguing it is his turn. Both Jill and I are trying to tell him it is not his turn. He just had a turn at the window but he doesn’t want to hear it and is beginning to get fresh. Now I don’t take back-talk from my own son, I’m certainly not going to take it from you. Knowing that Christine had made a few comments earlier in the week I wasn’t sure if I should say something but then realized, she was nowhere to be found. That makes me in-charge. I finally just very sternly, not yelling but forcefully “STOP the back talk”.

Bryson sort of looked at me like he didn’t know what to do like this was the first time he ever had anyone speak to him with authority. I think he was so taken aback he was stunned. But he stopped it and we were able to move on and there were no other incidents with him. I felt perfectly within my right – if someone is getting in my face, adult or child I have every right to tell them to back the #*&@ up – do you all agree?

My mom has been on fishing trips with Bryson and his Grandfather (mom’s boyfriend) and has told me she is shocked at how Bryson speaks to his Grandfather and no one does anything about it. Now I’m certainly not mother of the year but perhaps if Christine did anything it would be better than nothing.

So after that KP disaster we move around to France. It was just getting more and more crowded and I was not having a good time. I like to walk around the countries at a leisurely pace and be able to poke around and explore. Right now I was in the “Get me outta here” mode.

As we arrive in France a street performer was just beginning it was the juggling/balancing act. After that I was like “I’m done” I told everyone this just isn’t for me, not having a good time, too hot, too crowded…C-ya. Evan and I and Chris with her boys all left to go back to the hotel. Jill and family and Mom all stayed to see some more.

I’m really bummed I didn’t get to walk around but I was not in the right frame of mind to do it. Jill did bring me back a caramel from Germany and I’ve been dreaming about it ever since. Cue Homer Simpson voice –ahhh caramel.

Back at the hotel we went for a swim and Evan rested while I began some packing. At this point I was still hoping to find the lost van rental keys but as you recall – I didn’t find them.

Coming Up Next
“Our final night and checking off one more thing from the to do list”