The Schools out for Summer Trip! - Completed
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hktmom · 07-01-2005, 10:49 PM

ooh-OW! Ouch! Me feet hurt just reading this report! I thought you guys would do well for yourselves this trip, but not THIS well! True park connesieurs!

So glad you both are so obviously having a great time. So glad to hear a father displining his pre-teen to have manners(that's my pet peeve) and still having a great time together. What a team!

Thanks for taking the time to write this Goof, you know we love it!

Heather

Joy J · 07-01-2005, 11:40 PM

Goof, I just caught up with your trip report and it's wonderful! It sounds like you and MaxGoof are having a fabulous time.

Joy

lauren-roxy · 07-02-2005, 12:05 AM

Another great update!! I hate it when my kids try to run off too, it's scary!! Can't wait to read more!!

bsblady01 · 07-02-2005, 12:57 AM

sounds like you had a great trip.

**Colexis Mom** · 07-02-2005, 08:10 AM

Another great day

More please

bsblady01 · 07-03-2005, 09:06 PM

soundsd like yuo had a great trip.

LLaffinPlace · 07-03-2005, 09:20 PM

Wow, y'all are covering a lot of ground--sounds like us!

I also had some trouble with a lost hat in April, but fortunately it was at AK on Primeval Whirl and the CMs were able to retrieve it for me after the park closed--they delivered it to Guest Services at the front.

Sounds like a fun trip--looking forward to reading more!

TheGoof · 07-03-2005, 10:59 PM

Saturday 6/25

This was not our best day, and it did not start well.

I had set a wakeup call for 6:30, but just wasn’t ready to get up. At 8:30, the Fire Alarm went off again! It got shut off fairly quickly so we did not bother to leave. But we did get up at this point, and got ready to go.

On my way out, I stopped at the front desk to find out what the deal was with these morning fire alarms. She apologized profusely, and said that a young guest had pulled it. I indicated that I hoped the parents had been issued a summons. She said she wished that the ink did a better job of marking the culprit.

Arghhh!

Anyway, Max had wanted to try some of the Star Wars weekend events that we did not do yesterday, so we headed back to MGM.

He wanted to try to do the Jedi Training session, so we watched the end of one session and waited for the next which was about a ½ hour later. Now they only pick about 30 kids for this, and participants are picked at random, so I warned Max he might not get picked.

When the time came, though, they literally picked every kid around him, but not him. Max was very disappointed. We went over to the Hasbro area and I played with him with the Attacktix toys they had on display. Then he played some other people that came. After a while we moved over to the Light Saber Battle Challenge video game display. He had some fun playing that for a while.

When we left there, he tried to convince me to buy him some toys. Now you must understand, I had been very explicit with him that this was a low budget trip. We had just been in April, and I really could not afford to spend much on souvenirs this time. I had told him that toward the end of the week, we would pick up a small souvenir, but that was going to be it. So I was not going to give in to the “I wants” now, or it would never stop. I learned that lesson several years ago.

He did not take no for an answer, and we had a major meltdown. Without getting into specific details, which no one really wants, suffice it to say it took a while for it to get through his head that he was not going to win this one, and to get over being mad. When it was finished, he asked if we could go to the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground. Since in the process he had lost several of the battle of wills, I knew it was time to let him have a win, so off we went to the playground again.

We hung there for a while. Max wanted to try the Jedi Training again, and I managed to pull him out with barely time to make the next one. We headed back over to Star Tours and he tried again. Unfortunately, once again, they picked all of the kids around him, but not him. I really don’t know what they were looking for, but obviously he wasn’t it. He was really upset at this point.

He decided that he did not want to stay at MGM any longer, so we went and left for Animal Kingdom.

By this point we were pretty hungry, so we headed over to the Restaurantasaurus. I bought two Adult versions of the meal deal, since he wanted a hamburger. When we finished eating we went over to the Boneyard. Max had tried in April to catch up with Nora, a CM that had given him a magical day in December, but we had missed her. So he tried yet again. They thought she was working over at Prime Evil Whirl today, so we went over there to see. When we were not able to find her there, we went back over to the Boneyard and Max played there for a while.

When we left there, Max asked for one shot at the boardwalk games. In April he spent a small fortune to win a tiny stuffed animal. I told him I wasn’t doing that again. He said he agreed, and he only wanted to try one time. I said ok, but that is it, don’t ask again. He said he agreed.

So we did the comet toss, and he did not win.

Since Tarzan Rocks is rumored to be closing, and DW loves it, we had promised to video tape it for her. So we went over and got into the last show for the day. Unfortunately, when I got the camera out, I discovered it had turned itself on, after I had attempted to tape Max during the selections earlier today at MGM. I was only able to tape about half the show.

When the show was over, we went back over to Prime Evil Whirl, and as we are going up the line, we came across Nora! After a moment, she did remember Max, and I think really appreciated that he had been looking to find her to thank her again.

She was quite busy directing people into one lane or the other at Prime Evil Whirl, so we could not really chat, so off we went and rode the ride.

When we got down, Max started to beg for more tries to win at the boardwalk games, and when I reminded him that he had agreed that he was only getting one shot at it, he did not take that well.

Animal Kingdom was not open that late anyway, and we had planned a meet offsite for this evening, so I decided that I had had enough, and we went back to the hotel.

When we got back, far earlier then planned, I made a phone call. I had spoken with a co-worker from the Florida office for my company earlier in the week. He works in the Fort Meyers area, which is several hours from Orlando, but his daughters were attending orientation for the University in Orlando, this weekend. So we had tentatively agreed to meeting for dinner.

I gave him a call, and we agreed on a place and time. I took a quick shower, and Max and I got ready. I was not particularly happy with Max, and I warned him that he had best be on his best behavior for my co-worker and his family!

We headed over to the restaurant; I passed by it twice, before finally getting into the correct place to get into their parking lot. The name of the place was Logan’s Roadhouse. We met up with my co-worker, his wife and two daughters. We proceeded to have a very nice dinner. Max entertained the ladies, and my co-worker and I talked shop. I must say Max was very well behaved. I received some very nice compliments from my co-worker and his family.

When we finally left the restaurant after quite a long conversation, we went our separate ways, and Max and I went back to the hotel. Max wanted to go swimming, which I would have agreed to, since he had behaved very well, but a lightning storm was coming thru, and we had to call it a night. So we headed into the room, and to bed.

hktmom · 07-04-2005, 03:34 AM

ooops...those days do happen don't they! As usual, you are super Dad and get through the moments it seems like a pro. I really admire that you draw the line and stick to it when it really matters. Good for you! Disney vacation or not, rules and agreements are rules and agreements.

Even still it sounds like you had enough fun to call the day if not stellar not a complete loss either! Glad to hear it-

Middle days are just fine too.

Heather

**Colexis Mom** · 07-04-2005, 09:18 AM

What a shame that Max wasn't picked twice for the Jedi thing

Sounds like they need to issues vouchers or numbers so that everyone gets a chance! I'm also sorry about the carnival games (been there, done that

)!

It sounds like the day ended on a high note though, dinner sounded great!

More please

Nala · 07-04-2005, 11:01 AM

Poor Maxgoof! Being passed over not once but twice. Sorry you guys had some rough spots in the day but it sounds like it ended on a high note.

Glad Maxgoof got to find Nora. What a magical moment for all three of you. I bet it really touches a CM's heart when they see how much their kindness effects a young guest.

Hope the next day is better for both of you.

**DrDolphin** · 07-04-2005, 04:14 PM

Great update!!! Sorry to hear Max did not have a good day at MGM -- but I am glad he found Nora again.

Happy _Disney_Family · 07-04-2005, 04:37 PM

Great Update!

sorry to hear Max (and you too) had a rough day at MGM. It is just so heart breaking to kids at that age and younger. Sounds like you did a great job of dealing with it though. Keeping your "cool" is so hard in "meltdown" mode but you are a master at it!

Can't wait for more!