Michael's Disney Adventure

Yesterday we did a bunch of rides at the Magic Kingdom, including Splash Mountain, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Railroad. While we were waiting in line for Splash Mountain it started pouring down rain and we got soaked before we could even get on the ride. We picked up poncho’s afterwards and of course the rain stopped! haha, figures.

It rained off and on throughout the day. We ended up coming back to the hotel around 5:00 and played in the pool for a few hours. Before we knew it the time had flown by and it was 8:30 before we were ready for dinner. We were too late to get some place good so we ended up at the food court.

This morning we had a great breakfast. We went to Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort for a character breakfast. We got to meet Chip and Dale, Goofy, Pluto and Mickey and Minnie of course. It was great and we got some good pictures. The food was good too.

After that we took the monorail to Epcot and went to the Living Seas to see all the fish and sharks. We got to see the handlers in scuba gear in the tanks feeding the fish, it was cool!

Unfortunately Michael’s aunt started to not feel well so we came back to the hotel. We were going to go swimming again but someone couldn’t do what he was told and is now having a forced nap while his uncle sits at the poolside bar, drinking a Casa Beer from Casablanca and writing this. Unfortuntely the wireless internet isn’t working yet so it’ll have to wait a while for posting.

Our plan is to go back to Epcot once his aunt is feeling better. We’ll try to find a good place to eat there. It’s been very difficult to get into any of the restaurants as busy as the parks are. We need to remember that during busy seasons you should make reservations 3 months ahead of time.

We’ll try to go on Soarin’, a new “hang glider” like ride that flies over Yosemite Park, Test Track and maybe Mission Space. They made a tamer version of this ride and I figured we could try it. For some reason, little mr. brave seems to not want to do this ride. Maybe it’s because I told him that if someone forgot to push one of the buttons on the ride that it would blow up. Oops, even when I told him I was just joking he still said he wasn’t going. I think I can talk him into it later. He’s gone on everything else with such gusto. I can’t imagine being 7 and riding Space Mountain with my hands in the air! He’s a daredevil like his dad. Unfortunately he’s also a clutz like his mom and has dropped everything he’s touched at least once and rammed into things with his body. His new nickname is “Fumbler” (take off on Mumbler from the new Willy Wonka).

Today we’re going back to Magic Kingdom. Yay!

Last night Jack and Mehgan flew in with their parents (Pat and Tia). Michael was so happy Jack was here. We went to dinner with them at the Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge. It’s fun, the waiters and waitresses yell out things and throw napkins and straws on the table. If someone asks for ketchup the waiter will yell out ketchup with them and all the kids will gather up every ketchup bottle and bring them all to your table. Michael and Jack did that over and over again. We had lots of food too, it was fun.

We didn’t go to the parks yesterday because it was very rainy out. We went to Downtown Disney and shopped in the Lego store and the other stores there.

Today we got up and walked around the Animal Kingdom Lodge looking at the animals and taking pictures. Then we had breakfast and went to MGM Studios because it was the last chance to see the Star Wars characters. We saw many of them and took some pictures. The lines were long at MGM, probably because it was the last day of the Star Wars thing. There were lots of people dressed up in Star Wars outfits, they looked silly.

We went on the Star Tours ride and Michael liked that one. We did the Back lot tour but that was boring. We were going to the Rock and Roller Coaster and then it erupted rain on us. We waited it out then walked over but it was about a 2 hour wait so we went and had lunch at the SciFi Drive Inn Restaurant.

After that we decided to head back to the hotel and go swimming. They have a 68’ slide at the pool. Michael went down it about 20 times. We swam and played for a few hours then got cleaned up and headed back to Magic Kingdom.

Sunday night was an Extra Magic Hours night at Magic Kingdom. Resort guests get to stay an extra 3 hours after the park closes, which meant instead of closing at 11pm we could stay until 2am. We had dinner around 8:30 at Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe then went to play.

First we looked at Space Mountain but it was well over an hour wait and they weren’t doing any more Fast Passes. So we went to Stitch’s Great Escape. Michael was a little scared but not bad. After that we went to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. It was a lot of fun and Michael enjoyed shooting the targets and spinning the car around.

After that we went to ride the Indy cars. Michael was 3“ too short to drive but they didn’t say anything so we let him drive anyway. He just couldn’t reach the gas pedal so I did that for him while he steered us, weaving, around the track. He had a blast... ”I drove a car!“

We went back to Space Mountain and got right through. He was pretty nervous as we approached the rockets and we let him sit in the first seat. I was in the 3rd seat and could hear him screaming the entire time but he loved it. He said later that was his favorite ride.

After that we wandered over to the Haunted Mansion. I think we may have made Michael a little more scared than he should have been but he made it through it. He was still a little scared after we got done.

We then went over to Big Thunder Railroad and that line was pretty bad. It was about 12:30am at this point and very hot and super humid. We were a sweaty mess. So much for cooling down at night. Michael loved the ride, except one part where we had a quick drop and he thought he was going to fly out. He was wedged between us and my arm was around him, he wasn’t going anywhere.

For the last ride of the night we went to Splash Mountain. It was pretty dead by this point so we were able to do it twice without getting off the boat. Michael was giggling the whole time and we got soaked both times after the big drop. It was pretty funny.

Michael was a super trooper as we didn’t get back to the hotel till 2:30am! Not too many 7 year olds could last that long Luckily he has his dad’s energy level. His only real problem the whole day was hanging on to things. I swear his fingers don’t work... :) Not sure how much longer the game boy will survive.

After our false start we finally took off from Rockford at about 7:30, only a little over 7 hours later than we had planned. We lost the first day completely as we won’t get to Animal Kingdom Lodge until after 11pm.

Michael’s been doing well, playing with his gameboy and leapster and reading a little.

He was very excited when the plane took off and was giggling and screaming like a little girl, as were many other kids on the plane too. We had a good laugh at him.

Well, not much of a start to this trip as there was a bad part on our plane and we’re stuck in the airport terminal waiting for the replacement part to come in from Vegas. Instead of leaving at 12:15pm, it looks like 6pm will be optimistic.

Michael has been quite a trooper, staying busy with his game boy and now watching Willy Wonka on the bigscreen tv in the terminal.

They are now setting up tables for food and drinks they are supposed to be bringing us. I guess I’ve been lucky in never really having a serious delay in all my air travel till now. That’s what I get for going cheap and flying Allegiant Air. Won’t make that mistake again. Is it worth the $300 I saved to sit in the airport for 7 hours? I don’t think so.