Nala & pride "A Bucket Full of Magic" TR About This Page:

[luvnwdwgal]

It's so nice to see you back with an update. Sending lots of pixie dust to Kiara.

[davishomeschool]

Originally Posted by Nala

They are Grand Mal. And while Grumpy and I are getting better at handling them, they are still scary and heartbreaking.

Thanks for all the pixies, everyone. I apprecaite them!

So sorry! I know it's scary my youngest DS had one due to an illness that lasted 30 minutes.

Keep your hopes up for the future. We have a friend who's DS had them on a regular basis while young. They thought he would never drive or work but by the time he was in his late teens his had stopped. He is now driving and planning for collage.

[pamcarey]

I'm finally all caught up!!

for Kiara.

I am loving your TR! I got so teary reading about Kiara braving the fireworks! And Primeval Whirl too! Wonderful!

[Jessie092408]

All caught up. Sorry to hear about Kiara's seizures.

[lindawdw]

What a wonderful update! I have done the high tea at the GF a few times and have always walked away feeling like it was a memorable event on my trip. I was glad to hear that the three ladies enjoyed it so much. I'm interested to hear about your MVMCP experience because we went this past December to it and I think we felt the same way about it.

[VictoriaA]

Love your TR!! Hope Kiara is doing better

[Minnie Lor]

I feel out of place at GF too but the tea. Major doses of for you all in dealing with this new health issue.

[scrappyjae]

Here's some pixies for Kiara and you guys as well. I know all too well how it feels to be at the mercy of medications with your child.

I am glad you all enjoyed your tea, that is something that I would like to do in the future with my DD.

[HiddenMickey]

Ready with more updates yet?

[shanmac]

for Miss Kiara that they find the right combo of meds to help her and some more for the rest of the pride that you can handle it all.

[lazanya]

[Nala]

Hi everyone. No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth, but this little thing called life got in the way of my TR writing. If anyone is still game on reading about our adventure, here is the next installment. Nothing like a little Christmas in July. Or in this case, a little MVMCP in July.



It was easy to see where we needed to go once we got to the gate, as there were quite a few CMs waving people with tickets towards them. We quickly got our wristbands and maps and were on our way. Making our way up Main Street, the MK seemed very crowded, but much of it appeared to be moving out of the park. I was hoping that trend would continue and this would be one of the less crowded parties.

Since this was going to be our only visit to the MK this trip, we let Kiara pick what she wanted to do. It came as no surprise that the Magic Carpets were first on her list. We made our way into Adventureland and again felt like a salmon swimming upstream. But at least the crowd was moving in the opposite direction of us. As I have done the past several trips, I actually walked past my favorite treat, a Dole Whip, but I was just too full to even consider eating one. I am now going on several YEARS since I have had Dole Whip. Some die hard fan I am!

The line for the Carpets was next to nothing, and within a few minutes Kiara and Grumpy were soaring high while Sarafina and I watched from the ground. Much to our delight, after only one ride on the Carpets, Kiara actually agreed to a ride on POTC. We can never be sure which way Kiara will go with this one, so I was glad she agreed. Sarafina had not been on the ride since Jack was added, and I was excited that all of us were going to ride together. We got in the queue, which had a fifteen minute wait posted , but we walked all the way to our boat with no wait at all! We all enjoyed the ride and I let Kiara point out Jack to Sarafina along the way.

From there it was on to Frontierland, which Kiara vehemently declined a ride on both Splash and Big Thunder. I was really hoping after her bravery with Primeval Whirl she would be game for both, but it was a no go. We made our way towards Liberty Square and offered a ride on the HM, but again she declined. She knew we were getting close to one of her favorite rides, and it was clear she wasn’t stopping at nothing between where we were and where it was. So, off we went to Fantasyland.

And what a zoo it was! I think 90% of the crowd in the MK was in Fantasyland. And virtually every stroller, and scooter, in the park was parked outside the ride Kiara was so desperate to get on, IASW. We had a heck of a time getting Sarafina’s scooter parked, but we finally did and led the way for her to the entrance. Problem was, the entrance was now the exit and what used to be the exit was the entrance. When did that change? Grumpy however was well aware of the switch (I have no idea how he knew it and I didn’t) and after a few minutes of mass confusion for Sarafina and I, Grumpy yelled out to us and motioned for us to join him. Sarafina and I fought our way through the crowd and caught up with Grumpy and Kiara, and once in the queue, we were on the ride. It was a wonderful little trip down memory lane with Sarafina by my side.

As much as one ride on IASW is for me, I would have gladly rode it another one hundred times if it would have meant the crazy crowd would have died down outside. Getting Sarafina’s scooter out of there, without her running anyone over, was quite the feat. We finally broke free of the masses, and Kaira spotted her next ride of choice. The Teacups. Ugh, the Teacups! Not only can I not ride this one, I can’t even watch it. Thankfully, Grumpy is not affected by spinning, so he was happy to take Kiara on it. Sarafina stated she could use a bathroom break, so I decided to go with her to the one in Tomorrowland and meet Grumpy and Kiara there after they were done with their ride.

We made our way into Tomorrowland and I was happy to see that the crowd was much lighter there then in Fantasyland. As we walked along, I noticed a CM that appeared to be a sidewalk cleaner. I then noticed that he was dipping his broom into his bucket, which was filled with water. As I looked down, I saw that he was painting Mickey’s face on the pavement. I stood and watched him for a minute and found it amazing that he was able to paint such great detail with a broom!

Sarafina and I found the bathroom and then headed to the designated meeting spot to wait for Grumpy and Kiara. A bit of time passed and there was still no sign of them and I started to get concerned that something was wrong. I got out my phone, you know, the fancy new one that I couldn’t work and almost threw into the bushes at the AK, and decided I would attempt to call Grumpy. It was while I was doing this I noticed something flashing on it. “You have missed events”. Events? My phone has events? I fumbled around with it and discovered I had a text from Grumpy. I fumbled around some more and finally figured out how to read said text. It said “On race cars come take our picture”.

I ran down the ramp alongside the track and started looking at every car that passed hoping to see the two of them. Finally I saw them. They were making their way up the steps and over the bridge to the exit. I had missed my opportunity. When Grumpy and Kiara got to me, he told me she was in the driver’s seat. That made me even more sad I had missed getting a shot of her for the first time behind the wheel.

Kiara then spotted Buzz Lightyear and begged for a ride on it. Since Grumpy had done the last two rides with her, it was only fair that I took her on this one. Plus, I wanted to ride to prove to myself that the past few times I had been on Buzz, I truly had a malfunctioning laser, and really was not that bad of a shot. Off we went and I was thrilled to discover that yet again, the ride was almost a walk on.

Kiara and I had a blast racking up points as we attempted to defeat the evil Zurg. But, once again, I found myself with a faulty laser in my hands. I seriously cannot be that bad of a shot. How could anyone not break 2000 points? Kiara was thrilled that she smoked me, and couldn’t resist making an L on her forehead with her hand and proclaiming me a big loser. I defended myself stating that I had, once again, got a faulty gun. But, I am starting to think, maybe, just maybe…………………it’s not the gun.

When our ride was over, we met back up with Grumpy and Sarafina. Attempting to get in all of Kiara’s favorite rides meant that we had missed the lighting of the castle ceremony. As sad as I was to have missed it, I knew we would still have plenty of opportunity to see it all decked out in its holiday glory. But, the time had come to seek out a spot for the first parade. In fact, we were well past the time need to get a really good spot. Grumpy and I decided with only a half an hour before the parade was scheduled to start, a spot on Main Street would be useless to stake out. We decided to head to a spot we had watched the Halloween parade from before, that was little known, offered a perfect view and would allow us to see the parade without being engulfed in a sea of humanity. Off towards the Christmas Shop we headed, hoping that once again, we would get lucky.

As luck would have it, our secret spot had been discovered over the years, and we found it to already be several deep. Knowing at the late hour there really was not better choice, we filed in behind the others who were there. While the viewing of the parade didn’t turn out so well, it was a great spot to attempt to take pictures of the castle.



The parade, or what we could see of it, was really cute. I’m sure if we had had a front row seat it would have been much more enjoyable, but we had no one but ourselves to blame for our poor position. As soon as the parade was past us, Kiara started to get nervous about the fireworks. Gone was the bravery she had shown the night before on the balcony at the BC and it was apparent that she wanted nothing more than to be out of the MK before they started.

Grumpy and I at the same time realized we were facing a problem that was unique to us. With Sarafina on a scooter, a quick exit from the MK was going to be next to impossible. The decision was made to split up. Grumpy would take Kiara and make the mad dash to the gate and Sarafina and I would wait out the crowd and make our way out when things cleared out a bit. Off the two of them went and I was able to breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Grumpy would be able to get Kiara out of the park long before the fireworks started.

When the crowd around us thinned out, and I felt it was safe for all involved for Sarafina to begin moving on the scooter, (as in, not run anyone over) we slowly made our way to the gate. Once outside the MK and on our way to the bus I busted out laughing. Sarafina asked what I found so humorous and I looked at her and said “That was one REALLY expensive parade!” One which we had spent several hundred dollars for the four of us to see. I then realized that MVMCP was not the party for us.

I don’t want anyone to take offense to that last statement, so let me say again that the party was not for US. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the party. The parade was wonderful. The decorations were beautiful and the castle was a sight worth seeing and a picture in my mind that I will not soon forget. The hot chocolate and cookies were a nice touch and I can’t fault Disney for the fact that it was very warm and humid and a hot drink was the last thing any of us wanted. And I am sure the holiday version of Wishes was amazing. I am still kicking myself for the fact that Sarafina and I easily could have stayed and watched them since Kiara was safely out of the park. Why we didn’t is one of those questions I will probably never stop asking myself. (Looking back, I am sure that it came down to the fact that I was dead tired after partying like a rock star the night before with Grumpy, and that my feet were flat out killing me.)

Another perk of the party is something that when I see people posting about it, I cringe. The short lines for rides. When we attended MNSSHP, the rides were the last thing on our minds. All the festivities of that party held our attention and short of one or two of Kiara’s favorites, we didn’t do any. When I would see people posting about the short line rides I would find myself thinking “There is so much more to do! Skip the rides and anything else you can do on any other day!!” But this party, the short lines were a blessing. Being that this was going to be the only trip to the MK on this journey we would make, we wanted to make the most of it for Kiara. Being able to walk on to all of her favorites, and wait little more than five minutes, at most, for all of them, was well worth the price of admission.


So, my final thoughts on MVMCP are this: I am so glad we did it.

Would I do it again? Maybe. Would I recommend it for others? You bet! Just because it wasn’t for us doesn’t mean that I didn’t see the magic in it.

Both Grumpy and Kiara, as well as Sarafina and myself, made it safely back to the BC. All of us were beat, so the entire pride turned in at the same time. This had been a day of many first for us and while some were hits and some were misses (depending on what member of the pride you ask) it was still a wonderful day. It was after all, a day at WDW!

Up next: A magical moment so “WOW” it got framed and put on a wall. (really, it was that good)

[lauriep]

Glad you're back! I'm another who cannot even LOOK at the teacups in motion. I agree with you that when the parties are crowded, they're not worth paying for. I've been to the Christmas and Halloween parties on a weeknight early in the season and it's a completely different experience. I sympathize with the difficulties the scooter present. When people tell me I'm "lucky" to be driving around in one instead of walking, I just shake my head.

[B.M.]

Glad you were able to get in several of your favorite rides! Too bad you couldnt get a better spot for the parade....

[PamelaK]

Great update. I can understand what you mean about the party not being for you and your family. Personally, I would have been seeking out the characters in their Christmas finery, but knowing that Kiara would benefit (and better enjoy) the short lines for the rides, I totally understand your choice. I can't wait to hear about the WOW moment.