![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Once Upon a Time...
Once upon a time, there were two lesbians and their children who went on a trip to Disney World. It rained. A lot. *g*
We left early morning on July 1st, and arrived around 1:00-ish after some technical delays with the plane. Apparently Disney has this thing where you don’t even need to get your bags, they will do it for you and send them to your rooms. Or, as the agent said when asked, “Your belongings will magically appear... after a couple of hours.”
We got all checked in and everything, ate some less that stellar food at the buffet-like area of the hotel, and headed off to Epcot as E has wanted to go since it first opened when she was a teenager. We liked Epcot. A lot. It became our safe place. *g*
We toured the International area(s) and found a handful of sarcastic workers as well (or, as we put it, those who had not drank the Xanax-tainted water). The Canadian pavilion had the treats and snacks that Youngest can have that we used to pick up for him from the border (he’s allergic to peanuts, so he loves the Smarties as an alternative to M&M’s). We had dinner at the Yakatori restaurant in the Japanese pavilion – recommend this place for food with flavor for not a whole lot of money (well, Disney-speaking, that is).
We wandered a bit more before we went back to the hotel, soaked from the rain and exhausted after watching the fireworks from the Monorail area. Picked up some donuts from the store for breakfast the next morning, E and the boys went swimming for a bit, and then we crashed.
The next day, we took the boat from our hotel down to Downtown Disney. It was... very commercial? Epcot has shops; this was one giant monument to consumerism. The Magic Kingdom was not much better. There were people pushing and shoving and shouldering their way in between us and our children and generally reinforcing the stereotype that all Americans are rude. A child dropped his Legos on the ground and E stood over him so he would not get trampled because his own parents were nowhere to be found. Awesome.
Also, they had no Dopey doll. Anywhere. This saddened me. A lot.
We looked around and headed back to Epcot for the technology area and to play with the flight simulator(s), which I must admit was cool. We also had nummy food from the Norwegian place – potato torte with goat cheese and veggies, and chocolate mouse-like desert. We stayed and watched the One World Celebration thing that involves fireworks and a cool lit-up Earth showing the histories of civilizations and art. And played with a toad that came up next to Eldest. I also caved and bought E the CD with the cool world techno music mix that had been playing.
We had brought the raincoats and umbrella along and carried them around all day. It only sprinkled once. Go fig.
Saturday we hit Disney’s Universal studios. It was bright and sunny and 90+ degrees and unbearably hot and humid and there were scary people singing in the streets and being ‘humorous’ with the forced crap I hate. I had trouble cooling down in the heat, but we waited in line for the Star Tours Starwars ride-thingy. It had AC inside. There were robots. It was decent, though crowded.
We walked out of there and it started to drizzle. Then it started to downpour. Then we walked over to the Muppet 3D Experience instead. It was sarcastic and therefore good. *g* We walked out of there into a continuing downpour. Did I mention we did not bring the rain gear? Did I mention I thought it felt good, at least for a while?
Eldest went on the Tower of Terror, twice, and then we got out of Dodge. We got back and got some snacks and the boys munched and unwound and watched Argentina versus Germany and we snuck off and had a margarita and a mojito, and returned to watch the end of the game. They wanted to go swimming again as it had stopped raining and we found a smaller pool that was nice and empty next to the building our room was in. They were having fun until two teenaged girls came in (roughly 16-17), and the pregnant one crapped in the pool and no, I can’t believe I had to type that. E reported it and we went back over to the main pool instead.
Sunday we slept in a bit, dressed in the little U.S. flag shirts the boys’ grandmother got us, and did laundry. We figured the parks would be packed due to it being the Fourth of July. Youngest played with Legos, I watched a purloined copy of a Leverage episode, E wrote, and Eldest goofed around. We ate at the nicer restaurant at the hotel and maybe, possibly, pigged out a little on really good food. It was higher in price, but worth it for something other than over-cooked burgers and chicken nuggets.
After dinner, we wanted to see the fireworks from Epcot. Okay, we also wanted the nummy chocolate cake we saw there after walking off some of our dinner. Eldest was being difficult, so we left him back at the hotel. He’s twelve and a half and was left in a locked room with a television and snacks. By the time we got to Epcot, he had called us each twice.
We saw an interesting exhibit on agriculture and alternative methods of sustainable farming and then we went over to the British pavilion where E got a beer for herself and a cider for me. We then went over to the Norwegian pavilion where she got chocolate cake for Youngest and I and a cream-filled pastry for herself.
We found some decent seats nearby and waited for the fireworks to begin, and played Spot the Security – I liked the one in the full Norwegian traditional dress the best but had seen her the day before with her badge. Apparently there had been a big scare at the NY airport only a few hours before, so security was upped a ton. There were plain clothes and uniformed people everywhere. They all helped direct the huge crowds towards the exit at the end.
We returned to the room to find Eldest still watching television, only he had not seen any of the food and claimed to be starving. The granola bars were on the shelf in front of him, the cookies in a red box in the center of a near empty table, and the chips were on top of the mini fridge with the salsa inside the fridge. Boy would starve on his own, I swear. *g*
The next day we slept in again, but eventually headed off for the Animal Kingdom. Youngest lost his medic alert bracelet before even getting into the park, so had a bad start all around. It was incredibly warm again, and humid, but we wandered several trails to look at the animals, and went on a “safari” ride where you got to see a lot of different animals. My favorite part was the line of vultures on one of the curves, all sitting neatly on different rocks and posts and such, all with their wings extended as if pointing that no, you don’t want to go this way, you want to go that way instead. Unfortunately, we did not get a picture of that.
Some more wandering and some waiting for Eldest to go on a ride, and we headed back to the hotel away from the heat. At which point it, of course, started to rain again.
E took the boys to the pool as it was not pouring and I holed up in the room for some computer time. No internet as Di$ney wants you to pay $9.95 per day for internet access in your room, and it’s not even wireless.
We wanted to go to Downtown Disney for real restaurant food, so we got in line for the ferry. We even got on the ferry but were told that, you guessed it, there was a lightning storm there so no ferry service (big metal boat on water in lightning storm = bad thing). We hit the bus depot and waited and waited and waited but no Downtown bus and our blood sugar was dropping, so we resorted to the buffet-thingy at the hotel again before going back to the room for writing time for all (with some really awful cartoons on in the background until we found Wizards of Waverly Place which is actually quite funny).
The next morning, E got up before us and snuck out to get breakfast. Our original plan was to hit the water park, but the forecast called for thunderstorms so we opted for one last pass through the Magic Kingdom figuring it would not be that busy on a Tuesday morning. Oh, were we wrong. Eldest went on a few rides and we hid in the shade where we could find it. It was hot, humid, and crowded – a truly awesome combination. The line for Space Mountain was at about the 70 minute mark, so Eldest got a Fast Pass to come back later.
E called and made reservations for dinner so we hit Downtown Disney for a cute little Snow Baby thingy with Bambi that I thought my mother would like for Christmas and then bided our time until our turn at the House of Blues. Oh, sweet deity of your choice, the food was delicious. I had the penne pasta with like three kinds of mushrooms, chicken, and gouda, E and Eldest had ribs, and Youngest had a shrimp etouffe. We finished it off with a shared piece of chocolate cake.
We took the ferry home and Youngest and I stayed in while E and Eldest headed back to Space Mountain. I spent some time torturing characters in fic, and she spent some time being tortured by watching grandmothers dance to “Thriller” instead. She called a bit later to say the ride broke just as Eldest was about to get on, so they gave him a pass that could be used anywhere in the park for any ride so he ran off to Buzz Lightyear Space Command instead. Oh, and it of course barely rained. At his point, we’re utterly convinced it does not rain if we bring our gear, only if we forget it. *g*
Wednesday was our last full day and we spent the majority of it at the Typhoon Lagoon water park. I’m not big on pools or swimming ever since a near drowning incident when I was young, but managed the Lazy River and Wave Pool as well as one inner tube ride. I somehow managed to pop my shoulder out and then back in during one round of the Wave Pool – don’t ask as I don’t even know. I also managed to turn myself a shade most accurately described as “hot pink” as I apparently missed quite a lot when applying sunblock, or it just plain wore off. Oops?
After many hours there, we stopped back at the hotel, dried off, and changed. We went off to Epcot again where we tried to get into the Canadian restaurant, but it was booked, so we ended up at the Marrakesh Moroccan restaurant with some truly excellent food, live music, and belly dancing. We wandered through Epcot some more, let the boys go on one more ride, and then headed back to the hotel to pack and use copious amounts of Solarcaine on all of us.
The next morning was our last one in the land of Disney. We got up early so as to not miss the bus and such and to check in our luggage, which you can do right at the resort and they will get it to the airport and such for you. Breakfast at the buffet-thingy and far too many bad cartoons later, and we were ready to go.
A brief plane delay, missing iPod freak out (later found in a different bag), and several peanut-loving passengers later (WTF Delta? Enclosed and recycled air with one of the most common major allergens?), and we touched down back in lovely MN.
We got home to four very anxious and loving kitties and one really oddly calm puppy. We plan to try to keep it relatively low key for the weekend, though E has to work, and then it’s back to what passes for normal in our lives come Monday.
We left early morning on July 1st, and arrived around 1:00-ish after some technical delays with the plane. Apparently Disney has this thing where you don’t even need to get your bags, they will do it for you and send them to your rooms. Or, as the agent said when asked, “Your belongings will magically appear... after a couple of hours.”
We got all checked in and everything, ate some less that stellar food at the buffet-like area of the hotel, and headed off to Epcot as E has wanted to go since it first opened when she was a teenager. We liked Epcot. A lot. It became our safe place. *g*
We toured the International area(s) and found a handful of sarcastic workers as well (or, as we put it, those who had not drank the Xanax-tainted water). The Canadian pavilion had the treats and snacks that Youngest can have that we used to pick up for him from the border (he’s allergic to peanuts, so he loves the Smarties as an alternative to M&M’s). We had dinner at the Yakatori restaurant in the Japanese pavilion – recommend this place for food with flavor for not a whole lot of money (well, Disney-speaking, that is).
We wandered a bit more before we went back to the hotel, soaked from the rain and exhausted after watching the fireworks from the Monorail area. Picked up some donuts from the store for breakfast the next morning, E and the boys went swimming for a bit, and then we crashed.
The next day, we took the boat from our hotel down to Downtown Disney. It was... very commercial? Epcot has shops; this was one giant monument to consumerism. The Magic Kingdom was not much better. There were people pushing and shoving and shouldering their way in between us and our children and generally reinforcing the stereotype that all Americans are rude. A child dropped his Legos on the ground and E stood over him so he would not get trampled because his own parents were nowhere to be found. Awesome.
Also, they had no Dopey doll. Anywhere. This saddened me. A lot.
We looked around and headed back to Epcot for the technology area and to play with the flight simulator(s), which I must admit was cool. We also had nummy food from the Norwegian place – potato torte with goat cheese and veggies, and chocolate mouse-like desert. We stayed and watched the One World Celebration thing that involves fireworks and a cool lit-up Earth showing the histories of civilizations and art. And played with a toad that came up next to Eldest. I also caved and bought E the CD with the cool world techno music mix that had been playing.
We had brought the raincoats and umbrella along and carried them around all day. It only sprinkled once. Go fig.
Saturday we hit Disney’s Universal studios. It was bright and sunny and 90+ degrees and unbearably hot and humid and there were scary people singing in the streets and being ‘humorous’ with the forced crap I hate. I had trouble cooling down in the heat, but we waited in line for the Star Tours Starwars ride-thingy. It had AC inside. There were robots. It was decent, though crowded.
We walked out of there and it started to drizzle. Then it started to downpour. Then we walked over to the Muppet 3D Experience instead. It was sarcastic and therefore good. *g* We walked out of there into a continuing downpour. Did I mention we did not bring the rain gear? Did I mention I thought it felt good, at least for a while?
Eldest went on the Tower of Terror, twice, and then we got out of Dodge. We got back and got some snacks and the boys munched and unwound and watched Argentina versus Germany and we snuck off and had a margarita and a mojito, and returned to watch the end of the game. They wanted to go swimming again as it had stopped raining and we found a smaller pool that was nice and empty next to the building our room was in. They were having fun until two teenaged girls came in (roughly 16-17), and the pregnant one crapped in the pool and no, I can’t believe I had to type that. E reported it and we went back over to the main pool instead.
Sunday we slept in a bit, dressed in the little U.S. flag shirts the boys’ grandmother got us, and did laundry. We figured the parks would be packed due to it being the Fourth of July. Youngest played with Legos, I watched a purloined copy of a Leverage episode, E wrote, and Eldest goofed around. We ate at the nicer restaurant at the hotel and maybe, possibly, pigged out a little on really good food. It was higher in price, but worth it for something other than over-cooked burgers and chicken nuggets.
After dinner, we wanted to see the fireworks from Epcot. Okay, we also wanted the nummy chocolate cake we saw there after walking off some of our dinner. Eldest was being difficult, so we left him back at the hotel. He’s twelve and a half and was left in a locked room with a television and snacks. By the time we got to Epcot, he had called us each twice.
We saw an interesting exhibit on agriculture and alternative methods of sustainable farming and then we went over to the British pavilion where E got a beer for herself and a cider for me. We then went over to the Norwegian pavilion where she got chocolate cake for Youngest and I and a cream-filled pastry for herself.
We found some decent seats nearby and waited for the fireworks to begin, and played Spot the Security – I liked the one in the full Norwegian traditional dress the best but had seen her the day before with her badge. Apparently there had been a big scare at the NY airport only a few hours before, so security was upped a ton. There were plain clothes and uniformed people everywhere. They all helped direct the huge crowds towards the exit at the end.
We returned to the room to find Eldest still watching television, only he had not seen any of the food and claimed to be starving. The granola bars were on the shelf in front of him, the cookies in a red box in the center of a near empty table, and the chips were on top of the mini fridge with the salsa inside the fridge. Boy would starve on his own, I swear. *g*
The next day we slept in again, but eventually headed off for the Animal Kingdom. Youngest lost his medic alert bracelet before even getting into the park, so had a bad start all around. It was incredibly warm again, and humid, but we wandered several trails to look at the animals, and went on a “safari” ride where you got to see a lot of different animals. My favorite part was the line of vultures on one of the curves, all sitting neatly on different rocks and posts and such, all with their wings extended as if pointing that no, you don’t want to go this way, you want to go that way instead. Unfortunately, we did not get a picture of that.
Some more wandering and some waiting for Eldest to go on a ride, and we headed back to the hotel away from the heat. At which point it, of course, started to rain again.
E took the boys to the pool as it was not pouring and I holed up in the room for some computer time. No internet as Di$ney wants you to pay $9.95 per day for internet access in your room, and it’s not even wireless.
We wanted to go to Downtown Disney for real restaurant food, so we got in line for the ferry. We even got on the ferry but were told that, you guessed it, there was a lightning storm there so no ferry service (big metal boat on water in lightning storm = bad thing). We hit the bus depot and waited and waited and waited but no Downtown bus and our blood sugar was dropping, so we resorted to the buffet-thingy at the hotel again before going back to the room for writing time for all (with some really awful cartoons on in the background until we found Wizards of Waverly Place which is actually quite funny).
The next morning, E got up before us and snuck out to get breakfast. Our original plan was to hit the water park, but the forecast called for thunderstorms so we opted for one last pass through the Magic Kingdom figuring it would not be that busy on a Tuesday morning. Oh, were we wrong. Eldest went on a few rides and we hid in the shade where we could find it. It was hot, humid, and crowded – a truly awesome combination. The line for Space Mountain was at about the 70 minute mark, so Eldest got a Fast Pass to come back later.
E called and made reservations for dinner so we hit Downtown Disney for a cute little Snow Baby thingy with Bambi that I thought my mother would like for Christmas and then bided our time until our turn at the House of Blues. Oh, sweet deity of your choice, the food was delicious. I had the penne pasta with like three kinds of mushrooms, chicken, and gouda, E and Eldest had ribs, and Youngest had a shrimp etouffe. We finished it off with a shared piece of chocolate cake.
We took the ferry home and Youngest and I stayed in while E and Eldest headed back to Space Mountain. I spent some time torturing characters in fic, and she spent some time being tortured by watching grandmothers dance to “Thriller” instead. She called a bit later to say the ride broke just as Eldest was about to get on, so they gave him a pass that could be used anywhere in the park for any ride so he ran off to Buzz Lightyear Space Command instead. Oh, and it of course barely rained. At his point, we’re utterly convinced it does not rain if we bring our gear, only if we forget it. *g*
Wednesday was our last full day and we spent the majority of it at the Typhoon Lagoon water park. I’m not big on pools or swimming ever since a near drowning incident when I was young, but managed the Lazy River and Wave Pool as well as one inner tube ride. I somehow managed to pop my shoulder out and then back in during one round of the Wave Pool – don’t ask as I don’t even know. I also managed to turn myself a shade most accurately described as “hot pink” as I apparently missed quite a lot when applying sunblock, or it just plain wore off. Oops?
After many hours there, we stopped back at the hotel, dried off, and changed. We went off to Epcot again where we tried to get into the Canadian restaurant, but it was booked, so we ended up at the Marrakesh Moroccan restaurant with some truly excellent food, live music, and belly dancing. We wandered through Epcot some more, let the boys go on one more ride, and then headed back to the hotel to pack and use copious amounts of Solarcaine on all of us.
The next morning was our last one in the land of Disney. We got up early so as to not miss the bus and such and to check in our luggage, which you can do right at the resort and they will get it to the airport and such for you. Breakfast at the buffet-thingy and far too many bad cartoons later, and we were ready to go.
A brief plane delay, missing iPod freak out (later found in a different bag), and several peanut-loving passengers later (WTF Delta? Enclosed and recycled air with one of the most common major allergens?), and we touched down back in lovely MN.
We got home to four very anxious and loving kitties and one really oddly calm puppy. We plan to try to keep it relatively low key for the weekend, though E has to work, and then it’s back to what passes for normal in our lives come Monday.