Pat me on the back, high-five me, hell you can even low five me because this summer I officially crossed off #15, Visit Disney World, on my list of things to do before I go. This was accomplished June 3 - 8, 2013.
But before I get into that let me step back for a moment. Before I went on this trip, Mark and I bought a book specifically about Walt Disney World (WDW) as we both knew this would be a whole new experience not only for us but the kids. We read the book and tagged everything that seemed slightly interesting. However there was a chapter that I kept going back to called "The Agony and The Ecstasy". This chapter (which after the fact I believe is perfectly named) was about understanding that your kids will freak out and there is nothing to be done except compose oneself and move on from there. My favorite line in that chapter was "....Remember, who's trip is this? Yours or the kids?" I must have read this line over and over and my naïve response was always the same, "Its MY trip, the kids are going along for the ride".
On June 3rd, we left from LAX and headed to lovely Orlando, Florida! We had movies, we had snacks, we had lunch, we had DVD players and really it was a very easy flight and thankfully uneventful. When we landed we made it easily to our bus. Like all Disney trips we have taken, we got to enjoy a video of all the wonderful things we will see (while Mark mocked the video :)) and I even began to tear up in the Disney Express Bus when the Main Street Electrical Parade Music began to play. We even checked in with ease and although I thought our hotel room was in the north 40's it still was easy to find, wonderfully clean and we were happy to finally be here. The remaining part of the day we had a great dinner, peeked into the shops, and I even let the kids swim in the pool as promised. Although the kids were too excited to go to bed we managed to finally get them to sleep.
The second day of the trip was even better. When I walked through Epcot, I had the biggest grin on my face. Although it lightly rained we hit all the major rides at Epcot! We rode the monorail, we found Nemo, we learned to live with the land, we understood the circle of life, we talked with turtles, we sang with Captain EO, we chased the dancing waters, we learned Canada is cool, we became secret agents, we had lunch in Italy so we decided to have dinner in Germany and most of all the kids, Mark and myself enjoyed our day. We were happy to be together to see new things and the complaints were so minor from the kids that I can't even remember any.
But as we all know even in Disney movies, something lurks around the corner....something awful that threatens to be the unraveling of even the most hearty hero. So I humbly (and ask for forgiveness) present:
The Agony
The Weather - Did you know that it rains in Florida in the month of June? Nay it pours in the month of June. I was so worried thinking about humidity that I completely forgot about the rain. On our 3rd day (Our Magic Kingdom Day) it started out a great morning...but then the humidity rose and we were sweating to death. Then the sky opened up and poured buckets and buckets of water. We tried to continue doing a pirate scavenger hunt but with all the rain and people running around hiding from the rain it became unbearable and nearly impossible. Then.....
Mental breakdown in Magic Kingdom - My kids were whining, other people's kids were whining, strollers were used as bulldozers to make room and the rain it just kept coming and coming until finally there in the middle of the Magic Kingdom I cried. I cried my eyes out. Mark, Matthew and Andrew stopped what they were all doing at stared at me. I cried and I said "This was my dream, I wanted to come here and it feels ruined by everything and everyone!!" With those words I managed to sting the three people I cared about because I wanted them to feel just as sad as I did. It was not my children who were misbehaving as the book said they would, it was in fact their mother.
The Ecstasy
Country Bear Jamboree - After my outburst we silently walked to the Country Bear Jamboree. It was this show that let me compose myself and remember why I was there. Mark was to the left of me the kids were to the right of me and I got to walk down memory lane with them. I whispered to them that Big Al was Grandma Ernie's favorite bear and that I was always worried the bear on the swing would fall down from the ceiling although she never did. When the show ended we all walked out still soaked but happy.
People Mover - The rain would not stop. It just wouldn't. So we abandoned the stroller (it was too wet anyway) and decided we would run in between the drops to get to the next ride. The kids didn't care so we didn't either. The People Mover line had no covering so we parked the kids at the front of the line (which was covered) while Mark and I stood in the rain. The line went pretty fast and finally we were all sitting on the people mover. It was eerily the same but not. The kids loved the ride because unlike its old counterpart at Disneyland the People Mover at the Magic Kingdom was fast well fast-ish. I'm sure the kids were sick of me telling them about the people mover in Disneyland (and how it compared) but I didn't care and they didn't let on. And it was nice to see the smile on everyone's face and especially Mark's. After all he finally go to ride the one last Disney public transit ride he had been missing. We rode this twice and it became a favorite ride.
Main Street Electrical Parade - Did I mention it rained? During the day I stopped a cast member (or 10) and said "Will the Parade be on today!!" Each of them said "if it stops raining". Towards the end of the night they started to set up the ropes and I knew I would get to see the most beloved Disney Parade. I had seen it during its final run at California Adventure. Although I was happy to see it, it just didn't feel right. I mean California Adventure is not Disneyland, so seeing it here meant a lot. Finally the time came and then I heard the intro music play and tears rolled down my eyes. There I was sitting on Main Street U.S.A. and watching the beautiful lights pass me by and it was all I had ever hoped it to be. I even got a good laugh when Andrew said "Who's that!!?!!" and I said "That's Pete's Dragon!!" Andrew continued to look at me even more confused! All I could do was laugh, because how can you explain to a 4 year old about a dragon from the 70's who can turn invisible? So instead I continue to watch the parade and soak in all the Disney Magic I could before we all turned into pumpkins.
So with that #15 has been officially crossed off my list of things before I go (Visit Disney World). Tired, overwhelmed and exhausted but well worth the trip and I can't wait to go again.
So with that #15 has been officially crossed off my list of things before I go (
