My Best Trip Ever! A Disney Trip 10 Years in the Making - Page 20 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I don't know how but someway I missed your MNSSHP update. Glad I saw that! Seems like you and Evan made the most of it despite the rain! I love that you got to meet Tarzan! That is one if my favorite Disney movies!
__________________
Check out my Pre-Trip Report for our 9/18-9/23/12 trip here:
So I have just read your entire report this morning Holly. This will be a long response as I wrote a list to remember my comments as I went through.
I just loved the story about Minnie. That was too funny. Glad she was able to get through to him!
I agree with you about girls in the parks with the high heels. I am amazed how many women I see with them on while I am there. Forget it, I would never be able to handle that!
I love the pic of Evan with Pluto...the first one where he is bent down hugging Evan. Very cute!
Sorry about the keys. I never rent a car while I am there, but am always paranoid about losing my house and car keys. I just think, how will we drive home from the airport 1.5 hours away. I leave them in the safe the whole time. Sorry you didn't find them in time not to be charged, but yay for finding them in a safe spot...so safe you couldn't find them!
the pic of Evan and Eric on the gator, that is awesome!
I am glad that you have had some time on your own with Evan, I think that is great period...but forgive me for saying, from your description it sounds like Christine was a party pooper. That would have driven me crazy! I am sad that you didn't keep some of your ADR's...I mean she was aware of them and that it was the plan, she should have spent the money and sucked it up, or been prepared to eat on her own. Of course, I am assuming that everyone was informed considering ADR's were made. Idk, it just doesn't seem right to me, and I feel like the time you have spent with Evan and with Evan and you mom alone, have been happier more efficient time.
I too like to go, go, go! At least at the parks. So I can feel you there.
Here's hoping that the remainder of the trip is drama free and you actually make some of your ADR's.
I'm not afraid of birds, but I don't like going in aviaries because I'm afraind I'll get pooped on. Not my idea of a good time. I think Evan was a trooper though...he still gets high marks for sitting on that gator.
This is a great update, Holly! Really made me want to visit Gatorland and had me at several points also! Your description of the bird taking the food and you considering taking the food back-- hilarious! I'm a big fan of tortoises and would love that section.
I'm gald I made you laugh - you should go there sometime.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Glad you had a great time at Gatorland!
we did - thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
I think I would have had the same reaction to realizing there was a bird on my shoulder!
I felt like such an idiot
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
I can't believe that bird was mocking you with the hot dog!! Glad you had a great time at Gatorland!!
we did have a nice time and that bird was just sitting there with this hot dog dangling out of his mouth like "I dare you"
Quote:
Originally Posted by DawnK
Brave boys on the alligator!! Very! What a fun day! I have never been there but have always driven by it.
bird! Birds scare me. I hated the avairy at the old Discovery Island At WDW. Got pooped on twice in there...
we didn't get pooped on but the birds were pretty aggressive with the food
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Sounds like an overall great day at Gatorland!
It really was.
Quote:
Originally Posted by emvenable77
I don't know how but someway I missed your MNSSHP update. Glad I saw that! Seems like you and Evan made the most of it despite the rain! I love that you got to meet Tarzan! That is one if my favorite Disney movies!
Glad you were able to go back and find the MNSSHP update. Despite the rain we still had fun
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Gatorland sounds like so much fun - especially if there are some funny photo opportunities for Mark... you know he'd be there!
It was a plesant afternoon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OneLittleSpark
So I have just read your entire report this morning Holly. This will be a long response as I wrote a list to remember my comments as I went through.
I just loved the story about Minnie. That was too funny. Glad she was able to get through to him!
I agree with you about girls in the parks with the high heels. I am amazed how many women I see with them on while I am there. Forget it, I would never be able to handle that!
I love the pic of Evan with Pluto...the first one where he is bent down hugging Evan. Very cute!
Sorry about the keys. I never rent a car while I am there, but am always paranoid about losing my house and car keys. I just think, how will we drive home from the airport 1.5 hours away. I leave them in the safe the whole time. Sorry you didn't find them in time not to be charged, but yay for finding them in a safe spot...so safe you couldn't find them!
the pic of Evan and Eric on the gator, that is awesome!
I am glad that you have had some time on your own with Evan, I think that is great period...but forgive me for saying, from your description it sounds like Christine was a party pooper. That would have driven me crazy! I am sad that you didn't keep some of your ADR's...I mean she was aware of them and that it was the plan, she should have spent the money and sucked it up, or been prepared to eat on her own. Of course, I am assuming that everyone was informed considering ADR's were made. Idk, it just doesn't seem right to me, and I feel like the time you have spent with Evan and with Evan and you mom alone, have been happier more efficient time.
I too like to go, go, go! At least at the parks. So I can feel you there.
Here's hoping that the remainder of the trip is drama free and you actually make some of your ADR's.
Glad you were able to catch up and thanks for joing in. Christine wasn't a total party pooper but I was getting annoyed at times. I felt responsible for her - somehow - I mean she had never been before and was looking for me for guidance. It was hard at times, that fine line you tread between telling her to go pund sand or to be nice and give up your ADR's. I know Evan and I will be back so we'll get them next time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Love the silly pics of the boys!
And I'm with Evan - birds freak me out!
Score on the birthday button at Gatorland!
I'm not a bird person, can take them or leave them. That birthday button has been worth its weight in gold this trip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
I'm not afraid of birds, but I don't like going in aviaries because I'm afraind I'll get pooped on. Not my idea of a good time. I think Evan was a trooper though...he still gets high marks for sitting on that gator.
We didn't get pooped on - thank God - but Evan put his hand in poop in the aviary in the Philly zoo - yuck!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tabitha34
What a great time at Gatorland!
We had a really nice day. Evan loves crocodiles so we kept saying all the gators were crocs. shh don't tell him.
I have the next post all writen I just need to resize photos. so check back on Wednesday for the next update - More birthday surprises in store.
After a rest Evan got a bath and I finally washed off the tattoo on his face. Then it was at the hotel and I wanted to spend the evening at the campfire program at Fort Wilderness.
I have stayed at Fort Wilderness many times but never did the campfire. My SIL had taken my niece and nephew when there were about 7 or 8 and had a nice time. I had wanted to try it and had planned the schedule to have it be tonight.
I asked if anyone else wanted to come along and to my surprise, everyone wanted to come, Christine and Stephen both (so I guess the feud is officially over).
For those of you not familiar with the campfire program…at Fort Wilderness there is an area that every night has a campfire where you can roast marshmallows or make s’mores. They have a sing-a-long with Chip and Dale and then a movie out under the stars – and it is free (minus the cost of the marshmallows/s’mores). However you could also bring your own.
Because of the rain the day before things had cooled down and we now needed our sweatshirts at night. We left Shades of Green and drove over to FW parking lot where we then needed to get on an internal bus to the Meadows Trading Post and the camp fire.
We arrived pretty early and were able to find really good seats on the benches. Some people bring lawn chairs and blankets to lie on. We got there early enough that they were just lighting the fire. Some people headed off to get marshmallow, others watched the bags and the kids. I was trying to get Evan all set as his shoe was literally falling apart.
He had on his sneakers and the sole was separating from the shoe. Anyone with little ones knows that when they drag their feet the sole starts to pull away at the toe. Well his shoe was way beyond that it was about half of the shoe at this point. He could barely walk in them as it was like a reverse flip flop. I had taken the shoe lace out of my shoe and was trying to tie up the sole of Evan’s shoe in order to get him through the night.
As I’m performing my surgery a cast member comes over and starts talking with Evan. She had seen his birthday pin and was asking him how old he was, was he having a good time, etc…all the usual stuff. Then she asked Evan if she can borrow mom for a minute.......Okay, now I’m paying attention.
She told me she is in charge of selecting a family of the night for the campfire program and would like Evan and I to be it. “I see he is celebrating his birthday” she said “and besides he is so stinking cute”. No objections from me on that point. She asked how many were in our family/group. I told her our family unit is just us two but the group was 11. I knew that would be too many beside no one else wants to wear their pins remember. The CM tells me we will get to meet Chip and Dale and escort them down the aisle and begin the sing-a-long. She told me she likes it to be a surprise for the family so not tell the rest of the group.
As the time approached the CM took us to the back and presented us with a certificate and autograph photo of C&D.
Then we had a private meet and greet – only had my camera, no photo pass. As Evan and I were posing for pictures I realized I had my arm around Chip’s back and was actually “petting” him. I was like – “Oh you are so soft, I miss my dogs”. Chip made a silly laugh gesture but the CM inside probably thought I
was crazy.
The big moment arrives – the man leading the sing-a-long introduces C&D and the family of the night “Here comes Chip and Dale escorted by the Bryfogle Family”. Evan was right in the middle and I followed behind. He was beaming from ear to ear. My family was so shocked and surprised and Evan was waving to everyone like he was the King of Siam. He was so adorable.
YES – score one more for that birthday pin!!!
The sing-a-long takes about 30 minutes and they play stuff like She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain, Home on the Range and on Top of Old Smokey. After that it was time for the movie.
Tonight was Goofy Movie, which none of us have seen. The basis of the movie is Max, Goofy’s son, is embarrassed by Goofy and wants to spend the summer hanging out with his friends. Goofy wants to reconnect with Max by taking him on an adventure like his father did with him. Well Goofy being the parent wins out and Max is forced to spend the summer with his father. How does it end? Do they reconnect? …I don’t know. We never saw the end. About a 1/3 of the way into the movie Goofy and Max have a run-in with Bigfoot; that was enough for Evan. He was scared and wanted to go. I asked if anyone else wanted to leave and all the adults said yes and the kids said no. Guess who won.
We packed up and headed out. My niece wanted to borrow the movie from the library when we got home but I don’t think she ever did. Perhaps someday we’ll see the end of the movie.
Soon enough we were back at the hotel and heading off to . Not the most exciting night but I’ll never forgot Evan’s special treatment. It was a really fun and low key night and the perfect end to our relaxing “down” day. I would definitely recommend the campfire program.
I've seen Goofy Movie - I think we even have it on VHS still. But I think you should watch it and not have me tell you the ending. But come on - it's Disney - who kind of know how it ends.
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Gatorland sounds like a great break away from the parks...glad everyone had a good time. Love the special treatment that Evan recieved at the campfire, that birthday button sure was doing its job but I think that he would have gotten the same treatment even without it - he is just too adorable.
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the pic of Evan and Eric on the gator, that is awesome!
"Sparky"(My first trip.)
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
I think Evan was a trooper though...he still gets high marks for sitting on that gator. 
! What a fun day! I have never been there but have always driven by it.
bird! Birds scare me. I hated the avairy at the old Discovery Island At WDW. Got pooped on twice in there...
Holly: 
Then it was 
at the hotel and I wanted to spend the evening at the campfire program at Fort Wilderness.
– and it is free (minus the cost of the marshmallows/s’mores). However you could also bring your own.
“I see he is celebrating his birthday” she said “and besides he is so stinking cute”. No objections from me on that point.
. Not the most exciting night but I’ll never forgot Evan’s special treatment. It was a really fun and low key night and the perfect end to our relaxing “down” day. I would definitely recommend the campfire program.
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