Overall Impressions. . .

Ok, ok.  I know it's been like a month or more since I've posted an entry here.  I apologize for the lapse.  I could sit here telling you how busy and crazy life has been during my absence, but that would be a waste of time spewing excuses that mean nothing to you, my readers.

If you have come back to read this last entry about our trip to Walt Disney World, I thank you for your patience and loyalty.  

For our last morning we went to the Magic Kingdom to have some PhotoPass pictures taken.  We posed in front of the park entrance for a photo with "Let the Magic Begin" in the background.  Inside we got a shot with Cinderella's castle as the backdrop.  Mom gave her camera to the photographer, and he snapped some pics with it, too. 

The only other thing we did was stop for breakfast.  We had dining plan credits to use before our adventure ended, so we headed into the Main Street Bakery.  It was a bit difficult to weave our way to the door because they had one of those construction tunnel things over the sidewalk, creating a cattle-chute for the guests.  Inside it was determined that this wasn't the right place.  (I don't know why.)  So, we headed out, but not before I saw a wonderful thing.

Near the registers was a rack with a bright red Mickey Mouse-shaped item.  It was a pancake mold.  The very one I had been looking for, but was sold out online and in the Disney Store at home.  Mom and I snagged it on our way out.

We went next door for breakfast, then headed out of the park for the last time.  

I'll spare you the boring details of the airport and the bus ride there.  Just suffice it to say that it was uneventful and timely.


Our time submersed in the magic and chaos that is Disney brought several realizations.  First, and I knew this going in, a family trip to Disney is not a vacation for those of us who are parents.  It is far too stressful to call it a vacation.  

I was surprised to find that most of the guests at Walt Disney World are not Americans.  There were people from all over the world, and in this small area of our own country we were the minority.  It was a bit frustrating at times, like when the woman with the Spanish accent and her entire 6-member family line jumped right in front of us for Snow White's Scary Ride.  I forgot to mention that one earlier, but here you go.  

The entire family climbed under the rope and into line.  Mom and I freaked while the men stood by.  Then woman claimed she had been waiting--outside the roped-off queue area--for 45 minutes while her family went to the restroom, and supposedly the cast member near by said it was okay.  Ummmmm. . . .   I don't think so.  And while we followed the line to the ride, the women mumbled in their heavily accented voices about how they had cut into the line and what the story was.  I wanted to punch the diva sunglasses right off the ignorant shrew's face.

There were many other incidents that involved visitors from other planets.  I mean countries.  Sometimes I wonder what the difference is.  But, don't get me wrong.  I  do not generally hate or judge those from different backgrounds.  I just hate ignorant people who care nothing for others and think only of themselves.  My experience with the foreigners in Disney World was just that.  All of the people who were helpful, courteous, and gracious were American.

Another observation was that, while most cast members were everything Disney advertises them to be, the ones that weren't certainly made up for their overly cheery and friendly counterparts.  I realize you can't be happy all the time, but being downright unpleasant in the service of the public isn't acceptable in my eyes.

Do not go to Main Street USA for parades.  And try to be far away when they start, with plans to stay far away for a while after they end.  The area isn't designed to handle that many people.

We had other, personal issues come up and get in the way of our fun.  I won't go into them, but they did have a significant impact on our first "vacation" as a family.  

As a group, we decided that we'll wait at least another 3-5 years before we attempt this again.  That way Bug will be tall enough to get on just about anything he wants, he'll remember more than "Piglet took my Nuk," and it should be a little less stressful.

Those of you who have stuck with me through this ordeal, I thank you for your loyalty.  And I hope you will continue to return now that the adventure is over.  As a writer, I love knowing that I have readers.  As my readers, you are my reward for writing.

Beasties, Legos, and Explosions. . .

Thursday was another morning at the resort's bus stop.  This time, waiting for a bus that would take us to Disney's Animal Kingdom.  The plan was to spend the morning watching exotic animals, observing the wonders of obscure places of the world, and gazing at the magnificence that is the Tree of Life.  Of course we couldn't miss out on Expedition Everest while we were there.

We waited through what seemed like a lot of busses until ours finally came.  Then it was what became the normal bus frenzy with getting the stroller folded and all our baggage together.

The entry to the park was adorned with beautiful pam trees and flowering tree/vine plants with fuchsia flowers that popped against the brown and green backdrop.  We meandered through the jungle-like atmosphere, crossing the lake, and ending up in Asia.  Dad went to get get the Fastpasses for me and Tommy for Expedition Everest while the rest of us watched a woman holding a baby bear--not real, of course, but the puppet's movements made it appear so.  Bug certainly liked it.







We also paused for a Photopass opportunity--me and Tommy with Expedition Everest  in the background.  The woman had us do a pose like "grrrr", but Tommy didn't really get into it.

Bug & Daddy waiting for the Safari

We headed to the Kilimanjaro Safari then.  I was pretty excited for this, though I can't say how the others felt.  But for me, this was probably the closest I'll ever get to a real African safari, so I was really looking forward to it.  The wait wasn't too hateful, and it was shaded with a nice breeze before we entered the safari "office."  We walked over a bridge that the safari busses went under, and Bug got excited.  Just before entering the line for the next bus, we encountered "No Poaching" signs.

Mom gave me her camera for this one while Tom ran mine.  He was supposed to be taking pictures of  all of us on the bus, but his lens was pointing out most of the time.  No biggie.  I was excited to be able to use Mom's new camera, though, and I had fun with it.

Kilimanjaro Safari Bus

As we headed out, our safari guide welcomed us to our two-week safari through the African plains.  She was very animated, and was in "radio contact" with some form of "authority."  We saw rhinos and pelicans, crocodiles and hippos.  There was an elusive antelope of some sort well- camouflaged in the trees.  We passed over a bridge that was in desperate need of repair and bounced through water holes.  All sorts of animals lay by the side of the road, just chillin' in the Spring sunshine.



I was excited about the giraffes.  A group of them huddled under a grove of trees, stripping the leaves from the high branches.  One came out to take a sip from the watering hole which looked like an old, hollowed-out tree stump.  There were two different kinds of giraffe, and while I could easily point out the differences, I can not recall the names.

Bowling for Buzzards!

The elephants were the best, though.  As anyone who knows me at all will tell you, I have an deep affinity for these large beasts that goes back generations.  The elephants on the safari were so active, running around and interacting with each other.  We saw three calves, two of which were playing together.  On baby was "bowling for buzzards" as Pumba and Timone do in The Lion King.  So cute.

The lions, being the cats they are, were all sleeping.  We could only see one from our safari bus.  But then we got to chase "poachers" and help rescue a baby elephant that had been kidnapped from her herd.  Not to worry.  The poachers were scared off, their camp abandoned, and the elephant rescued by the authorities. The detour did cut our two-week safari short, though.  Disney did a great job with Kilimanjaro.  It really felt authentic.

Tom was in charge of navigating through Animal Kingdom.  He successfully got us from the Kilimanjaro Safari to Expedition Everest with time to spare.  Tommy and I waited a few minutes, until we just couldn't wait any more.  We entered the Fastpass lane and zoomed to the front, anxious to ride the mining train.

I didn't tell Tommy what to expect on this ride.  I wanted him to be surprised.  Consider that your warning.  If you want to be surprised, don't read this part.  We climbed on the old mining train, somewhere in the middle, which--eh--I guess was okay.  I prefer the back, but on this wacky coaster, it doesn't really matter.  It was a peaceful ride at first.  Scenic, if a bit quick for gazing at the world around us.  But not roller coaster quick.  We went through the cold, dark interior of the mountain.  There was evidence of the Yeti in the landscape, but no sign of the actual beast.

Then the track in front of us curled into the air, ripped apart by some monster.  The Yeti?  Our train stopped.  We were given just enough time to wonder "what now?" before we shot backward.  Back the way we came, rocketing through the pitch-black depths of Mt. Everest, twisting through sharp turns up into the peak of the mountain.  There we stopped again.  We sat in the cold and watched the shadow of the Yeti tearing up more tracks as its roar echoed around the cavern.  Then we were moving again, but forward.  Tearing down the track, through the twisting darkness before exiting the mountain down a long, steep hill, and turning back into the station.

Green Wing Macaw

From the ground, spectators have no idea what goes on inside the mountain.  From their perspective the train goes up the hill forward and comes out forward.  There is no indication that the train reverses.

Animal Kingdom Lightpost

My one gripe about this ride is this:  Where was the Yeti that was supposed to "attack" us before we left the mountain?  Watching a show about Animal Kingdom, they talked about a huge animatronics Yeti that pops out at the end of the ride.  It is supposed to hang over the train and roar at the riders as they barely escape the clutches of its claws.  The show said it is one of the most sophisticated animatronics robots in the world.  I was really looking forward to the shock and terror of it, especially for Tommy, but I was disappointed.  The only Yeti we encountered was the aforementioned shadow.

Pile of Rhinos Totem

Our captain led us unerringly to the Flame Tree Barbecue for lunch where we had yummy pulled pork sandwiches.  We ate with Mallard ducks and American white ibises begging food at our feet.  This was very distracting to Bug.

Bamboo Lightpost

Heading out of the park, we stopped at DinoLand U.S.A. so Bug could ride the TriceraTop Spin.  After waiting in line for a short 15 minutes, during which Bug was playing with a little boy behind us, we were put in the queue for the next spin.  As we stood on our assigned number, my little man started whining that he didn't want to ride.  He was fully crying by the time I picked him up and carried him out, telling the attendant we were leaving the line.

As it turned out, he needed a change. . . badly.  Mom helped me, and together we were able to get him cleaned up and changed--shorts, too--in no time.  He was much happier afterward, and we went home for our afternoon nap.


We had reservations at T-Rex for dinner.  That meant waiting for a bus to Downtown Disney.  We were in the middle of the waiting area, with a large group of people to one end, when a bus heading to Downtown Disney pulled in.  It pulled all the way to the end, right in front of the big group.  They all got up.  I got a little irritated.  We were the first ones waiting and the only ones with a stroller and small child, but not one of those people were going to be considerate and allow us in front of them.  But while they were crowding around the door, another bus pulled in. . . and it was going to Downtown Disney, too.  We hurried to the second bus, rushed to get the stroller folded, and climbed on board.

The driver of this bus was chatty.  He wanted everyone to sing, but he didn't even know all the words or put them in the right order.  Then he was asking trivia questions about Walt Disney World.  One thing that stuck with me was when Disney acquired MGM, now Disney's Hollywood Studios, the saying was "Mickey's Got your Money."

We got off at the first stop in Downtown Disney, but we should have waited for the third-ish stop.  It just meant more walking, but it wasn't a big problem.  Except that we were running a bit late.  No worries, though, as we made it to T-Rex just in time.  Dad gave our name while I parked the stroller.  We waited in a special line for about 30 seconds, then went in to be seated.

First impression:  WHOA.  A life-sized dinosaur greeted us at the entry, tooth-lined jaws open.  To the left was a ginormous octopus reaching it's long tentacles out over the bar area designed to be "under the prehistoric sea."  We sat by a wooly mammoth with a pterodactyl perched above on a rocky wall.  The "ice cave" was next to us, entertaining with its glowing color changes every few minutes.  Every 20 minutes there was a meteor shower, and the animals would get "worked up" while the "sky" above lit up with meteors of all sizes.  It was loud, too.  You had to raise your voice to be heard, so normal conversation wasn't exactly possible.  Bug wasn't thrilled with the noise level or the animatronic beasties, but he did eat his food, which was something.

In the Ice Cave

Tom and Tommy got some sort of sugar-filled frozen drink that came in a huge cup reminiscent of a hurricane, but shaped like a dino bone.  Bug kept mooching Daddy's.  Mom and I got fruity-deliscious alcoholic beverages of some sort, complete with a souvenir glass.  The food was good, though not memorable.



On the way out, we stopped in the gift shop.  They have a "Build-a-Dino Workshop" there, and Grandmom wanted Bug to do one.  Bug, however, wanted nothing of it.  It was neat to watch the stuffing part, but he's not really into dinosaurs.

We walked through Downtown Disney a little further, crossing the bridge next to Planet Hollywood and stopping to take some pictures of the huge hot-air balloon.  The balloon doesn't seem to have a name, though you can board it's oversized basket and go up.

Buzz, Woody & RC Lego Sculpture

Dragon from Sleeping Beauty

We turned around then.  Next stop, LEGO Imagination Center.  The boys were in heaven in this store. There were life-sized depictions of Buzz Lightyear and Woody inside, with Snow White and the dwarfs, Prince Phillip and the dragon, and some others outside.  All built out of Legos.  Extraordinary.  Some of the sets they had for sale couldn't be bought just anywhere.  Tommy marveled at some Star Wars ship.  Bug thrilled when he saw the gang from Radiator Springs.  He also liked the display for the "Friends" collection, which is girly, but has many different elements that are true-to-life.

Bug & Grandmom with Lego Buzz

Tommy and the Sea Serpent 

When we introduced Bug to the Buzz Lightyear statue, he wasn't sure about it.  But when I showed him that it was made out of Legos, he was instantly attracted.  He loved looking at all the displays.  And he cried when it was time to leave the store.  In fact, after exiting the store next to the Imagination Center, Bug promptly took Daddy's hand and dragged him back into the store, telling him he had to go see.

Snow White & Dopey

Woody

We should have spent more time there, but we felt rushed.  The boys should have gotten to make something at one of the many stations.  Tommy could have designed a set of figures to take home with him.  We could have picked our own colors for a generic bucket of blocks.  Bug could have gotten a small set of Duplos to take home.  The options were endless, but we felt rushed.

Look Grandpop!  Radiator Springs Legos!

Tommy and the Star Wars Ship

We stopped at the Ghiradelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop, but didn't get anything.  The chocolate was the same stuff you can buy anywhere else, and it seemed like everything else was overpriced soda or ice cream.  But then again, we were feeling rushed.

We stopped in Once Upon a Toy on our way out.  Tom wanted to get Bug a Buzz Lightyear toy, but he hadn't found what he was looking for.  He didn't find it there either.

Our next stop was to be Epcot again to see IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, but Tom wasn't feeling up to it.  The discovery that we couldn't catch a bus from Downtown Disney to Epcot was a bit frustrating.  We decided to go back to the hotel and catch the bus from there.  Then a cast member told us the quickest way to Epcot from there was to catch the bus to the Old Key West Resort.  So we left Tom to wait for the Contemporary bus and headed to Old Key West.  (He later told me that when we left, and he was preparing to sit down, a group of obnoxious French women pushed in and took his seat.)

At Old Key West we waited for at least 20 minutes before I had to take Bug into the store to get him some juice.  We were standing in line behind a person who appeared to be grocery shopping, with a cashier who was moving in slow motion, when Mom came in and said the bus was there.  Of course.  I left the juice on the counter and left.

Epcot was packing it in for the show, but we managed to get a spot on the crest of a small hill.  We could see pretty well until, after the show started, people started pushing in front of us.  We had a short kid and I was holding a toddler, but people were so ignorant and selfish that they didn't care.  Still, all was going well. . .

Until. . .

I turned to see--what looked to me like--my mother pushing at some guy's face.  He was a full head taller than her with a kid on his shoulders.  My first thought and words:  "Mom!  What the Hell?"  While Dad went to try to calm her down, I grabbed a gawking Tommy and steered him to watch the fireworks show.  When another man stepped forward to diffuse whatever the situation was, I heard Mom say, "That's my husband!"

Mom calmed down and left the man alone, but she was still puffing.  "I hate this place," she said.  "I'm never coming back here again."

But we watched the rest of the show, which was spectacular at points, if a little too extravagant and pointless at others.  The Inferno Barge has massive explosions of propane that can reach up to 60 feet high.  Impressive, but very bright and very hot.  Even from our faraway perch, we could feel the heat.  Bug was not impressed.  The laser effects were stunning.  At one part they created the effect of the Aurora Borealis.

When it was over we debated about whether to hit Test Track, but because Tom wasn't with us we didn't.  Bug was also tired and thirsty, and he was refusing everything we offered him to drink.  We waited out the exiting crowd, then headed for home at a leisurely pace, stopping by the topiary of The Sorcerer's Apprentice to take a few pictures and get more organized.  We could have gotten another Photopass picture with the topiary, but Mom didn't want to be in it.

The monorail took us home, and during the ride, I got the story of what happened during the show.  Here it is:

An older girl (or young woman) pushed in front of Tommy so he couldn't see.  Dad had him move over to where he could see, but then he felt someone else pushing him to get in front too.  He pushed back.  Then someone pushed him harder.  It seems the person Dad had pushed was a kid, and the kid's father got a little perturbed that the kid was pushed.  So Mom went to his defense.  As I said, this man was a full head taller than her, but she was right up in his face defending her man.  

The guy did come back a little later and apologize to Dad for his behavior.  It was just a misunderstanding in an already confusing situation.

At home, we found Tom laying in the recliner, his foot propped up. Evidently, someone had stepped on his heel in Downtown Disney.  It was his bad foot, the one broken when his transmission exploded four years ago, so even a minor thing can lead to acute pain.

When we related our Epcot adventure to him, he said it was a good thing he wasn't there.  But in his time alone, he had gone out and gotten some gifts.  For Bug, two packs of posable Toy Story toys--read Gumby-ish.  For me a Mickey Mouse wine glass that looks like it will hold half a bottle of wine.

We went to bed that night, ready for the flight home the next day.

A Day Without Freak-outs. . .

Wednesday morning found us waiting at the resort bus stop, waiting for the bus that would take us to Disney's Hollywood Studios.  It didn't take long, but riding the bus can be a pain with a stroller because it has to be folded.  (I always felt rushed to get the stupid thing folded up while everyone else climbed on board the bus because I seemed to be the only one that could do it.  Not that it took more than 10 seconds to fold it, but if there was stuff in the bottom it wouldn't fold.  One advantage to having your own stroller:  You know how it works.)

The great thing about Hollywood is it's size. . . small.  If you compare a map of Hollywood to a map of any other Disney park, you will see the difference.  Instead of sprawling across the land, this park is set up like a city.  So everything is sort of layered, with attractions tucked in behind each other.  There are a few exceptions, like the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

We started by heading to Star Tours to get a Fastpass, but Tommy, Tom, and I ended up getting in line because the wait was 20 minutes.  Inside, the scenery was straight out of Star Wars, as was expected, but seeing it in person was pretty cool.  We got pulled to the front of the line because they were looking for a group of 3.  Very cool.

And the ride. . . WOW!  You're riding in a "Starspeeder 1000" that takes you on a crazy 3D adventure throughout the world of Star Wars.  Every "tour" is different, utilizing "light speed" to transition between settings.  The "ship" rocks, rolls, and shakes to make it feel like you're really flying through space.  Even "light speed" forces you back in your seat.  It was an incredible ride, and when we came out, through the gift shop of course, Tom bought Tommy and Bug each a shirt.  (Tommy was staring at the "build your own light saber" station with greedy eyes, but he already has like 5.)

While we were on Star Tours Mom and Dad went to get Fastpasses for Tommy, Mom, and me for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.  When we were all back together, we headed down one of the streets of Hollywood.  I marveled at the buildings, which were designed to capture Hollywood in its heyday.  The street ended at Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, and Fantasmic!  (We skipped Fantasmic! because we were unsure how Bug would react.  Some books said it could be frightening for toddlers.)

Time for the Tower of Terror!  But before we could get in line, we checked the Fastpass times for the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.  Unfortunately, the time was while we would be at dinner. . . again.  So, we deeded that, while it was probably an awesome ride, we would skip it because only Tommy and I would ride it.  

Tower of Terror was for Mom, Tommy, and me.  The inside was set up like an abandoned hotel, cobwebs and all.  Then we got packed into an old library and watched a clip from an "episode"of The Twilight Zone about the Hollywood Tower Hotel before the lights went out.  Then a bookcase opened and we got in another line that wound through the bowels of the hotel on the way to a freight elevator which was the "only elevator in the hotel that still worked."  The atmosphere was amazing.  The designers really did a great job with this one.

Note the partially open door below the sign. . .
That's where it shows you just how high you are.

The three of us sat in the middle of the elevator's three rows of seats.  It took us up, then, surprisingly, it opened up to a floor of the hotel where we watched ghostly scenes before moving forward through the hallway and in to The Twilight Zone.  (My mother was probably eating this up because she loves the show.)  Our trip ended in a pitch black shaft.  We knew what was coming.

We went up, then plummeted several stories.  All three of us broke out in uncontrollable laughter.  Occasionally, we would stop in our ascent, and the elevator doors would open to reveal the outside world and give us a feeling of just how high we were.  Then we would drop again, a free-fall into darkness.  I don't remember how many time we went up and down, each time to different levels, but it wasn't enough.  It was too much fun to have it end that quickly.  Definitely a highlight ride, a "must ride" ride.  

Through the back alleys of Mos Eisley, and past Star Tours again, we headed toward the hot air balloon with the face of Kermit the Frog.

Outside of the Muppet 3D Vision theater we delighted in the fountain featuring Miss Piggy decked out like the Statue of Liberty while Fozzy Bear filmed, Gonzo directed and Animal caused his usual trouble with the water pipes.

The line for the show wasn't bad.  We might have waited about 20 minutes before we were ushered into a room where we were told to "move all the way forward and fill in all the empty space" because they wanted to squeeze 600 people into a room that felt only big enough for maybe 200.  Talk about claustrophobia.  But then the doors opened and we moved into a huge movie theater where we watched the Muppets in 3D for 17 minutes.

Was it worth it?  Yes, as long as you love the Muppets and don't have to wait long.  The glasses were cheap and hurt my face.  Bug would't wear them at all, but then, he is 2 and doesn't really get stuff like that yet.  What I liked best was Sweetums coming out from "back stage."  Sweetums is one of my favorite Muppets, along with Animal and Beaker.

We found a place for lunch after the Muppets.  Tommy got to watch a Jedi Training session while we were there.  He didn't believe me when I told him that what those Storm Troopers were doing outside the window, though.  He insisted that they were there sort of like the Disney characters.

They drove around like this!

After lunch we rushed to catch the Lights, Motors, Action!  Extreme Stunt Show.  We missed the first couple minutes while we climbed an infinite staircase at the back of the bleachers in order to get to the top.  The stands were packed, and we had to split up.  Tom and I sat with Bug, while Tommy, Mom and Dad went a little further down the stands.

It was a great show, with explosions, flying cars and motorcycles, jet skis, and the highlight of the show for Bug. . . Lightning McQueen!  He seemed unimpressed until that red race car with eyes for a windshield pulled in.  After that, he was captivated, even after Lightning left.

Bug first sees Lightning McQueen

Beginning of grande finale

This show was a "must see" for us because of my car-lovin' husband and son, but it was hot and loud.  Boy was it loud.  Bug did not enjoy the volume of the people shouting into microphones whose speakers projected directly into the stands.  We were trapped between metal bleachers and metal roof, the raucous echoing around us, abusing our ears.  It wasn't the cars, or even the explosions.  It was the microphones amplifying the voices that should have been talking into them, but had the intonation of shouting.  Tom thought the set up was poorly thought out in so many ways, but it worked.  Other wise, a good show, though.

"Hero" car disappears
in burst of flame

I wanted to catch Disney Junior--Live on Stage! now, but it was getting late and we all were hot and tired.  So. . .

Hold on to the rail!
Grandpop & Bug on the bus.

We walked back to the buses after that, headed home for our daily afternoon nap.  But dinner found us back in Hollywood, waiting in the "living room" of the 50's Prime Time Cafe.  This restaurant is made to make you feel like you're sitting in Donna Reed's kitchen in the 1950's.  There are booths set at angles with small black-and-white TV's mounted up on a shelf in the corner.  The idealistic family shows play while you eat, interspersed with advertisements for Disneyland in California.  If I remember correctly, Walt Disney, himself, make appearances in some of the ads.  Very cool.  Oh, and the chairs were those metal-framed, padded vinyl types with silver flake on a black background.  You know Tom loved them.

The food was fantabulous, "home-cooked" meals.  I would recommend anything on the menu.  Our server was "Dad," even if he was a bit--how do you say--flamboyant.  Tom and I had vanilla malts reminiscent of the "5 dollar shake" from Pulp Fiction.  Bugs meal, a hot dog and french fries, came on a  Mickey Mouse-shaped plate, which he thought was pretty cool.






While we waited for Tom to visit the "bad boy area" (read "smoker"), Tommy had fun with hula hoops.  He was really good.













Afterward, we headed toward the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular show.  Mom had said it was lame when she came with her high-school girlfriend a few years before, but it was a sit-down show with no line, and Bug could enjoy it, too.  (Although my little man flirted with the girl in front of where he sat with Grandpop for part of the show.)  We all enjoyed it.  Well, maybe Ms. Critical didn't enjoy it as much as the rest of us, but she's so picky, you know.

At this point, we had missed the last Disney Junior--Live on Stage! show.  I know that Bug didn't know what he was missing, but I was a bit disappointed.  There isn't a whole lot for little guys like him, and he loves Disney Junior's shows and characters, but oh well.  It wasn't the first thing we missed, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

So I stayed outside with Bug while everyone else went for another trip "far, far away on the Starspeeder 1000."  It was a different trip than the one I took with Tom and Tommy in the morning.  This time they ran into Darth Vader and visited some snowy planet.

Then we cut through the alley again to find Mater and Lighting McQueen.  The line was nice and short, and we only waited about 10 minutes.  Bug wasn't too sure about it at first, but he calmed down enough to get a couple good pictures.  We also started using our Photopass at this time. . . finally.

"Pixar!"

It was getting to the point where people were getting cranky because of the long, hot day, so we started back to the park entrance.  But on our way, I wanted to find Buzz Lightyear for Bug.  After checking the map by the Sorcerer's Apprentice hat, we made a u-turn around a building and down a ramp, ending at the entrance to Pixar Studios.  "Pixar" is Bug's first sight word, and when he saw it spanning between the buildings he said, "Pixar!"  We walked down and back, looking at all the props straight out of Toy Story.  The character meet-and-greet had a line that, at almost 9 pm, said was a 75 minute wait.  75 minutes!  That let at night, shame on parents who have their little ones stand in line for that long.  I don't care what it's for.  Bug didn't know he was missing out, so we left.

On the way out, we stopped for another Photopass photo with all of us in front of the Sorcerer's Apprentice hat.  A good way to end the day.

Florida Sunshine & Sweet A/C

The great thing about a kitchenette in you villa:  breakfast.  Tuesday morning--and every morning there-after--we ate breakfast at "home."  It helped to reduce the morning stress load a bit, allowing for a more relaxed getting-ready time.  On the other hand, because we weren't scheduled to be out of the room on those mornings we were usually later to the day's park than desired.

On this morning we hopped the monorail at the hotel and rode to the "bus terminal and ticketing center" where we climbed off, went down the steep ramp, around to the other side, back up another steep ramp, and waited for the monorail to Epcot.

Pulling into the Epcot station, Bug got an up-close view of the giant silver golf-ball that is Spaceship Earth.  His response, "Big ball!  It's really heavy," had us laughing.

The first thing we did, after getting our bearings. was head straight to Soarin' for a Fastpass.  I went inside, while everyone else waited outside.  It was crazy inside the Land Pavillion:  I had to walk down a ramp around the perimeter, then down steps (or an escalator), then throughout the center of the building just to get to the Fastpass line.  I probably waited ten minutes in a line that looked much shorter than it really was, but came out with return times of 1:30 - 2:30.  Not bad.

It was maybe around 10 in the morning and already in the upper 80's, promising to be a HOT day.  I remember thinking, Thank goodness we're in Epcot with ill the air-conditioned buildings.  Everyone was chitin water as we headed next door to check out The Seas with Nemo and Friends.

Tom and I delighted in the seagulls out front.  They were from the movie Finding Nemo, and true to their characters as they stood on the rocks and cawed, "Mine. Mine. Mine."  It was a great intro into the building that houses a 5.7 million gallon salt water aquarium environment.  Walking into the building took you under the sea.

The ride had no wait, and gave more under water details, such as walking under a fishing boat like the one Nemo dares to approach in the movie.  We climbed into "clamobiles" and started our journey through an animated undersea world.  At the end the animated sea creatures "swam" with the live fish and dolphins in the large tank.  It was really cool to see the combination.  Truly a great work of imagineering.

Afterward, we went to visit Bruce in his shipwreck playground.  Then we saw ginormous manatees. They swam into the viewing area right after we walked up.  I've never seen them in person and was shocked at their size.

Bug & Daddy on
Journey into Imagination with Figment

On to the Imagination! Pavillion and the Journey into Imagination with Figment.  I LOVE Figment!  I just had to say that.  The adorable purple dragon gives lots of laughs as his trouble making escapades wreak havoc through the professor's "tour."  Afterward, we walked through a fun learn-n-play area called ImageWorks where we played with motion and sound, and I even created my own "Figment."  (He was green, and I named him Boober.)  This was the only part of ImageWorks that Bug actually liked.

Bug making his Figment

Creating "Boober"

Jumping water

Reverse waterfall

We watched the jumping water and reverse waterfall for a a few minutes, I inwardly lamenting the fact that nobody else showed any interest in seeing Captain E.O.  Then we headed for the World Showcase for lunch.

Above the reverse waterfall

Grandpop & Bug
with new umbrella

Happy, Doc, Grumpy & Snow White

We made it as far as Italy, pausing to snap pictures of topiaries in the form os beloved Disney characters and a beautiful little train garden.  We bought a panda umbrella for Bug to shade him from the beating sun.

Train garden

Lunch was the best pizza I have ever had grace my tastebuds.  The men had pepperoni.  Mom and I shared a white pizza with some special cheese, artichokes, and--the creme dela creme--white truffle oil.  Everything is better with white truffle oil.  It was all served by an authentic italian waiter.  I could barely understand him through the thick timbre of his accent.

We went no farther into the World Showcase because it was so dreadfully hot, and we were tired.  Besides, we had a Fastpass to claim.



Tom took Bug into Innoventions while the rest of us went to Sorain'.  We were early, so we hung around the gift shop for a while, Tommy admiring the pins.  I was captivated by tiny plants encapsulated in glass and growing in some sort of clear gel.  The labels said they were grown from samples taken from plants grown in Living with the Land.  (Another attraction I wanted to see but missed.  There's just not enough time for everything.)

Soarin' was awesome!  Other than the feet of people sitting in the row in front of us, this ride really made the effect of hang gliding feel real.  We felt the wind as we soared over the Golden Gate bridge, Napa Valley, and more.  At last we came gliding back to Walt Disney World over Main Street USA with its building lit up at night.  Then we soared into the night sky as Wishes was ending with the last firework so big it engulfed the sky, and its boom rocked us where we sat.  Awesome ride.  I highly recommend you give it a try.

It was back to the room for a nap afterward.  We did look at Test Track, but the line was ridiculous and the Fastpass return time was during our dinner time.  When we came back a little later to check the times again, Fastpass was sold out.  It was a shame because that was the one ride Tom was looking forward to.

Dinner was at The Crystal Palace with Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eyore.  This place is in the Magic Kingdom, so we walked from the hotel.  Of course, as we entered the park the Move It!  Shake It!  Celebrate It!  Street Party was in full swing.  Luckily it was just a bit farther up the road than we had to go, so we missed the craziness as we took our little side street.

We were seated pretty quickly, and hit the buffet before any characters made it to us.  Tommy's plate had a few grapes and a roll on it.  Not nearly enough food for a 13 yea old boy walking around Walt Disney World.  When we told him he had to eat more than that, he said he wasn't hungry.  A bit later he said he didn't feel good.  We got him to eat grapes and sip apple juice, but not much more.

On the other hand, Eyore was coming!  I love Eyore.  Bug wanted nothing to do with him, so I gave him a big hug, got his autograph, and posed for the camera.

Next was Tigger.  He's Dad's favorite, so Dad was the Bug holder for the Tigger pictures and autographs.  When he left, Tigger bounced away.

Piglet and Pooh came right behind each other, Piglet first.  At first, Bug was shy with Piglet, but the big pink softy had skills.  He was even able to take Bug's nuk out of his mouth and get huge, laughing smiles from him.  Pooh didn't have so much, but Piglet returned during Pooh's visit and we got more smiles.










Then we went back home because Tommy still wasn't feeling well.  Mom and I were convinced he was dehydrated, and we told him he had to drink.  It would make him feel better.  He did eat some grapes too, but because he wasn't feeling well, he didn't eat or drink enough to hold back the inevitable sickness that comes with being severely dehydrated.  He got sick.  Tom got him some Powerade and told him to keep sipping.

Because of all this, we didn't get back to Epcot like we wanted.  We were going to go for the Magic Hours only available to guests staying onsite.  After watching IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, Tom could ride Test Track and I could take Tommy on Mission: SPACE.  But alas, Epcot Magic hours would have to wait until Thursday.  (And, boy is THAT a story.)

So Tom and I watched Wishes with the music from the smokers' area at the main hotel while going to get Pepto, beer, and wine.  Then Mom and I took Bug down to see the pool.

Bay Lake Tower has a private pool, separate from the Contemporary's pool.  A key card is required to get in.  One side has a zero entry, meaning that it's like a beach and you walk in instead of using stairs.  Needless to say, Bug got soaked in his clothes.  He also soaked me and Grandmom, so I had Daddy bring down his swim diaper and trunks along with my swimsuit.  We all had a grand time.  It was the first time Daddy got to see Bug swim, and he was impressed.  Bug was also thrilled to show off his tricks to Daddy, and to swim with him since Daddy had worn his swim trunks, too.

Flowers at one pool in Epcot

We had an early night compared to the rest of the week, but we still had a good day.  Epcot was full of beautiful flowers, trees, and topiaries.  I missed visiting the Pixie Garden where Tinkerbell and her fairy friends frolicked (in topiary form) amongst the spring blooms and blossoms.  There was also an area dedicated to butterflies, but we only saw that in passing.

Floating flowers going into
World Showcase