Everyone who has gone through the process of planning a trip to Disney World can attest to the complexity and amount of time in can take. Try searching it on Google and you will find that there are one million, nine hundred and eighty thousand results. About two years ago, my wife Heather and I started this process. It was kind of general at first, looking at videos and even sharing some with the kids. We contacted family members who offered suggestions and even the use of a timeshare in the Orlando area. My mother also became an integral part of the process both planning and vacationing with us.
As time went by and we entered into the 12 month sprint as I like to call it, things went from window shopping to making sure that reservations were made at the most integral times to ensure that the family enjoyed the best trip we could give them. Heather really took over many of these steps by using her computer savoy to find time-lines and the best possible prices. Heather managed to get us a rental car for under three hundred dollars for the entire week, and that was for an SUV. Anyone who knows this stuff can tell you that was just one huge feat that she managed to accomplish. She also booked all of the airline tickets, finding us non-stop flights with Tran Air at the lowest price she could get, which was just around two hundred dollars. There was some added fees for bags and such but it surely could have been many hundreds of dollars more if she hadn't taken the time to research and locate us the best deal. I could really go on about Heather's planning because there were so many things she worked so hard on, but I do need to mention one final event that will come up later. If you have ever gone to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue you will always have a place set aside in your heart for this place. The show is sold out for six months and can be very difficult to get a seat for. Well, we not only got seats, but our table was front and center to the stage, you just couldn't be any closer. Thanks to Heather we were able to enjoy all of this and more. Grace had breakfast with the Princesses at the Magic Kingdom and we all had breakfast with Chef Mickey at The Contemporary Resort. She even had personalized maps of each park sent free from Disney to us. All I can say is thank you Heather.
So, our first full day of fun was on Sunday April 15th. We entered the Magic Kingdom by way of the monorail and it was simply priceless watching the kids walk through the front gates of the park for the first time. All the wonder and joy in their faces. They surely did not understand at that point how much the next six days would change their views of the world and the possibilities that were out there. We stopped by guest services to get the kids their free (yes I said it) buttons which showed everyone that this was their first trip to the park. Disney furnishes these buttons to many people who are celebrating birthdays and other events so that the staff or cast members, as they like to refer to them, can engage the people about their special event. Our first ride was the Pirates of the Caribbean. I do not suggest this as a first ride for children. The kids were scared and I just didn't think about it that way. But they quickly recovered when we went on Splash Mountain, which I believe was their favorite ride of the entire week. They ate this ride up from beginning to end. The story you went through on the way and then the big splash down, followed by the story ending on an up note, so perfectly Disney. We then went around the park from place to place. The Haunted Mansion, Small World, Peter Pan, the Speedway and then (trumpets blaring)
SPACE MOUNTAIN. Man I rode this thing like 15 times this week. It was awesome watching the kids jump off at the end of the ride and say,"Can we do it again?" My response; "we sure can!" This was one of my favorite rides growing up and continues to provide millions of people with the same amount of exhilaration to this day. Riding a roller-coaster is always fun but riding one in the dark is simply the best way to ride.
After all of the rides and shows like the Carousel of Progress and Buzz Light-year, we did a little shopping and found an interesting part of Disney that we hadn't known about, It was called,
Vinylmations and they are really fun and addictive. They are basically 3" Mickey shaped characters that come in boxes which are mostly closed to your sight. You can only see them once you buy them. So there are various sets of these guys, Star Wars is one, Disney Parks is another. The character is artistically painted and fashioned to keep it's Mickey body, but takes on the persona of the other idea. Very cool. So, as many of my friends know, I am a fan of R2D2 from Star Wars and therefore, wanted to get the R2 Vinylmation. I bought one of the boxes and opened it up, hoping and wishing and praying and promising, but it was not to be. I got the Han Solo guy, which really wasn't even my second, third or fourth choice, but that's the way the game goes. The other part of the whole Vinylmation experience is that many stores have trading boxes in them. So, you can take yours and trade for ones that you may want more. Some of the trades are covered and others you can see. I took that Han Solo guy into so many stores for two days. I didn't strike out completely though. I managed to trade for the Storm-trooper, which was much cooler looking. It was on our third day at Hollywood Studios that we walked into a store down the road from the Tower of Terror. We were discussing the R2D2 with the cast members at the store and my son decides he's gonna use his money to buy a whole new guy. He looks into the box and uses his magical abilities that only children seem to have the inner strength to muster and pulls out his pick. He proceeds to the register and pays for his box. Standing there in front of everyone who had just heard my story, with a big grin on his face, he opens the box and then the sealed and darkened plastic to reveal, you may have already guessed it, (drum roll playing the whole time), R2D2!!!!! It was such an amazing moment that we will never forget. His face with the little smirk on it as if to say "Was there any doubt?"
To end out the first full day of Disney, we rode some rides for a second and third time and then found our spots for the Light Parade, which is one of my mother's favorite things. She even had the record with the music on it when we were kids, yeah I said record. The parade was just magical with floats and walkers that were covered in lights. The music that played was that familiar sound from years gone by and the characters really took time to go up to people and make their day with a smile or a wave. Just sitting here writing about it makes me wish I was there. The kids made friends with two children from another family, I remember the little girls name was Kennedy and they were from Arizona. My mother even paid for one of the kids to buy a toy, which is not unusual for my mother. After the parade we watched the firework display in front of the Magic Kingdom. It was like the whole day they kept topping themselves and on the ride back to the car on the monorail I just had this overwhelming feeling of being so lucky to have this experience. The kids were tired and our feet were sore, but man it was worth it.
The family awoke Monday morning with zest in our hearts and an unusual power to ignore th pain in our legs and feet from the previous day. We had some breakfast at the apartment and headed out. With D&D coffee in hand we walked through the gates of Epcot center. Something I had been waiting to do for 12 years since our last visit was to see the pictures we had placed on the Leave a Legacy Wall. This was a program offered by Disney and Epcot specifically for the Millenium as a way to combine the past to the future. You sent a picture in and it was etched on metal and placed on the wall. You can find your picture by putting your name into the computer and they give you a card with directions to find it. It took a few seconds to get to it, but it was so cool to see your picture there. I couldn't believe how much younger we looked. I am so glad we decided to take advatage of that. I read that they ended the program in 2007.
Our first ride at Epcot was Soaring. We all loved this simulated ride, which took you hang-glidding through many different terrains. There were actual smells as you swooped over the citrus groves and the pine trees. You left this ride feeling like you had just been on an adventure. We left Soaring and visited several other attractions; Living with the Land was a look at the future of vegatation and hatcheries. Journey Into the Imagination with Figment has always been a favorite of the kids. I loved it from the first time I saw it and not surprisingly, so did my son. He smiled through the whole thing and at the end wanted to take home his very own Figment, which is a purple dragon for those who have never seen him. The show is basically a lesson to those who take life too seriously and to look at things in a different way. The kids really like this idea because there are no wrong ways to look at things. Gotta love that. The other attraction that was interesting to everyone was Captain EO, which is a 4-D movie with Michael Jackson. The fourth dimension being touch as you actually feel things that are being played on the screen. The most truly amazing part of it all is the fact that the movie was made in 1986. The effects in this show are so ahead of their time. Throughout the show you see people in the audience actually reaching out to touch the images that appear to be so close to their faces. Tyler could just about contain himself.
Epcot had one disappointing moment. The ride Test Track was closed for refurbishment until the fall, so we did not get to go on that. So, after having lunch, we decided to go back to the hotel and allow the kids to swim for a while. The kids had a ball and we adults had the chance to relax. We did however return to the park for the nightly show, Illuminations, which is one of the most awesome shows I have ever seen. The show incorporates music, fireworks, fire and water into a wonderfully choreographed display. Towards the end of the show a giant globe comes floating out to the middle of the lagoon. I read that the globe weighs 350,000 pounds. The inside is like one big giant fire pit and at the end it opens up and spins looking like a flower. Needless to say I want one in my back yard. The kids loved the show and surprisingly Tyler really did well throughout both fireworks shows we watched. He usually will not even go near a place that is having fireworks, but he really seemed comfortable and safe at these two.
Day three was a huge day for all of us. We had to be up extra early to get Grace ready for her breakfast with the Princesses. It was agreed that my mother would get to accompany her to this. So, after she had her hair done, make-up and the new dress that mommy bought her off of Etsy, that girl was truly a little princess. You know those moments as a father that you are overwhelmed at the accomplishments of your daughter. It was like that. I could just about look at her without tearing up. So, as Grace and mom-mom enjoyed their breakfast, Tyler, Heather and I went around the Magic Kingdom ridding the best of the rides. We met back up at Splash Mountain and my little girl showed me all of her things from the event. The pictures are amazing and she said that she loved it. Of course, mom-mom said she was the cutest girl in the place. It wasn't hard to believe.
We left the Magic Kingdom and headed to Hollywood Studios. Our first thing was the Indiana Jones Stunt Show. The kids loved it and honestly so did I. For one thing it was great to sit down for 20 minutes, but the show itself was action packed and funny. Star Tours was an awesome simulated experience with one of my favorite cats, you guess it, R2D2. The kids really liked Honey I Shrunk the Kids. It was a little play zone where they could see what it was like to play as shrunken people in the front yard of the Szalinkski's House. Truth be told this park has two attractions that my kids just were head over heels for, The Tower of terror and The Rock-N-Roller Coaster. Tyler was one inch too short for the roller coaster, which was the only ride in any of the parks he could not ride. Kind of strange. But the Tower of terror was amazing and we rode it several times in a row. The ride is so dark and mysterious. It takes you through a Twilight Zone episode where this family is in the elevator and it gets zapped by lightning. They were never seen again. So the ride takes you up through the hotel and out to the front window and proceeds to drop you and catch you and then you go back up and down several times until you feel like a martini (shaken not stirred). The Rock-N-Roller Coaster is extremely fast. Grace tried to get out once she saw it take off with the people in front of us, but then who wouldn't. I convinced her to stay. Man that ride is a trip. Up, down, over and under. You go from 0 to light speed from a full stop. Grace road it twice for the record. A few minutes after that we went to the store where Tyler bought the R2D2 Vinylmation. At that point there was some time to do some rides over and to eat a snack.
I think the nightly show at Hollywood Studios is perhaps on of the most original performances I have ever seen. It's called Fantasmic and it is just what it's name says. The show starts with images being projected onto water that flows throw fountains from the pool below. We did get a bit wet form sitting so close and the wind didn't help, but it was worth it. The show pits good versus evil, using all of the Disney characters from both ends of the spectrum. Then in an amazing finale, Mickey defeats the huge snake on stage and all of the evil villains fall one by one. There is simply nothing like it.
Tyler sat on my lap for this one, but he watched the whole thing and I got to have him on my lap.
Riding the bus back to the car that night everyone was smiling. It was our third full day of being at Disney and at this point everyone was so tired, but not enough to give in to. We knew we had some more time and I think we all were looking forward to the rest of the week. I remember feeling so hungry on that ride back to the apartment that night. We stopped at a local joint called The Steak-N-Shake which quickly became a favorite of mine. They have a burger called the Royale. anyone who has had one will know what I'm talking about. This burger is stacked with goodness and to top it all off they throw a fried egg on it just for kicks. Now, Heather knew from the door I was getting this one. But seriously, everyone liked this place, except for their pitiful service. The guys working the grill forgot two of our things and got another wrong. I think Tyler was ready to eat one of them if he didn't get his food.
Day four was our day to visit the Animal Kingdom. We had a decent time there, but I probably wouldn't go back there except to go on the one awesome ride they had there, which is called Expedition Everest. Now this is a ride. It looks like a scaled down version of Everest. You go up this huge first hill and just when you think you're going down the ride stops at an apparent broken track. Then you fall backwards through the dark ending up in this cavern where the Yeti Jumps out and pulls the track up. Your car then shoots forward and down the mountain. It is fast and fun. I video-tapped the whole ride. I couldn't believe I didn't drop the camera. The rest of the park was okay. We went on the Safari, which was somewhat boring. There was a cool ride called Dinosaur. This one had you travel back in time to collect samples for science, but this rogue scientist changed the trip plans to make it more dangerous. The time he sends you to is just before the giant meteor hits the Earth, you know the one that killed the dinosaurs and started the ice-age. We did end up having some pretty good Chinese food for lunch at the park and I made off with some sweet-n-low packets. Can't help it. I know I need counseling.
After leaving the park we set out for our next adventure. This was the Hoop dee doo night. This is a dinner show that is unlike any other. It's been running for as long as the park has been open. When I was a kid my mother and father took us there and I was picked to be in the show. My mother still has my certificate from that night. Another time we were there on the night they announced, "Who shot JR" from the television show Dallas. The cast members came in late to let everyone know who it was. Anyhow, the dinner is amazing, with ribs, chicken, corn, cornbread, mash potatoes, baked beans and everything you can drink. The shows are sold out for six months and people line up an hours before the show. As I said earlier, we were seated in the front table right against the stage. Throughout the show and dinner, the Pioneer Hall Players perform songs and skits with a lot of audience participation. Each character has a unique personality and they pull them off so well. It's entertaining to everyone, from young to old. At one point in the show two of the players are asking their side of the Hall to yell louder then the other. Out of nowhere this loud voice comes up over everyone. Just then the spot light turns to this little boy who is like 2 and everyone looks up and laughs. The players looks in amazement and then after several moments states, I'm just glad he's on my team. Hilarious. I have video of my Grace laughing so hard, I could watch it over and over. The end of the show has the people selected for the show perform a skit with the an old song. Everyone leaves this place completely satisfied and knowing that one day they will return to see it again.
Thursday was our day away from the parks. We couldn't have planned it better because in the early afternoon it began to rain. We spent the day at Downtown Disney where the kids enjoyed Legoland. This place has the most awesome collection of Legos you will ever see, and they let the kids play with them at tables. Here we picked up a Lego for both of our children with their names on them and the date of the visit. We also shopped the many stores that they have there. One of Grace's favorites was Lil Miss Match. The concept is that the socks and other things are mismatched and sold like that. I think it's pretty cool. Their men's section is practically non-existent. Oh well, I think I have plenty of mismatched socks to chose from at home. I Could probably start my own store for that matter. The kids spent some of their money at Downtown and so did the rest of us. Funny story, we were at this place called Bongos, and I was looking at the ring made of wood. As I took it off, it dropped to the floor. No one could find it anywhere. The lady said it was okay and we forgot about it. Later when we were in the car, my mother was looking through her things and found it had dropped into her pocketbook. Crazy. Also, while all that was going on Tyler decided to help with the store with their display of boxes. They had all of these cigar boxes with dominoes in them. Well he took it upon himself to take them all down and rearrange them to his liking. I'll never forget looking over to say, "ok it's time to go Tyler" and seeing this. We all just shuffled out of the store laughing. Oh, I have to mention the pretzel place, Wetzel's Pretzels. This place was awesome. Better then Auntie Anne's. They had a pretzel-dog with cheese and jalapenos. That thing rocked. The birds really liked them too, because the sitting area outside had all kinds of birds and ducks that would fly right onto your chair or table. Heather wanted no parts of it, so we walked and ate.
As we got into the car to leave the rain came. We could not have planned it better. We went back to our condo and got dressed for dinner. We decided that Heather had waited long enough for her Mexican food. We ate a place called La Patron, like the tequila. It was awesome. Heather looked so happy during dinner. We have the pictures to prove it. Really, it was a nice place with good food and service. After stuffing ourselves there we went back to the condo and the kids went swimming. Yes it had stopped raining.
Well, the final day had to come at some point. I remember waking up feeling a little sad and happy. Happy for the chance to spend the last day in any place we chose to and sad because it would be a long time before we would have this opportunity again. The day started off perfectly. Heather's planning had us going to the Contemporary Resort for Chef Mickey, which is a breakfast buffet with all of the characters. The buffet offered something for everyone, hash browns, grits and some other starches that people eat. A ton of bacon and sausage cooked to perfection. Eggs, pancakes and waffles shaped like Mickey and an endless amount of coffee. They also had every breakfast drink you could think of and cereals for those who like it cold. As the breakfast went on each character came to every table and stood for pictures with everyone who wanted them. It was priceless or about a hundred and thirty smackers. Either way we loved it and would do it again in a heartbeat.
The night before I had asked the kids to pick two rides each that they wanted to go on and we made a list. The Magic Kingdom was easy as they chose the big ones. Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, the speedway and we even rode on Winnie the Pooh for kicks. We then headed over to Epcot, but my mom stayed behind to rest and do some more shopping. When we got to Epcot the skies opened up and the rain came. We didn't care. We did a few things inside and then had lunch at the Mexican stand. We got a free picture taken for being a Visa Card holder. So, that was nice. We had wanted to go to Hollywood Studios but never did make it there. We ended up at the Magic Kingdom eating ice cream and hot dogs and relishing our last few hours at Disney. Yeah I said relishing. Anyhow, it ended as sweetly as it began. A week of pure fun and entertainment. A lot of learning and understanding how wonderful life can be when you just take the time to see whats out there. I know some people don't love Disney for their size and their corporate ways, but I am not one of them. I believe it is their size that allows them to be remain on the forefront of Disney's Vision, which was to keep moving towards the future for everyone. One of the most impressive things about the place are the endless amounts of cast members who come to work each day with a smile and attitude that is very hard to find anywhere else. Most of all Disney provided me with a way to see in my kids what I remember seeing firsthand years ago. Watching them grow and their eyes light up in disbelief all week long was worth all the waiting and planning and money spent. One day they will visit again, and surely they will remember April of 2012 as the time when they were first introduce to the happiest place on Earth. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope all of you have the chance to visit at some point and make memories of your own. Peace and Blessings.
