Post Trip Report

[ktulu]

So, we got home on the 20th. Great trip, interesting things happened, as well as some magical ones. Because I want to end on a positive note, I'll start with the SGT's.

Carousel of Progress. The opening scene ends, we move about a foot and the ride stops and the CM spiel's, "Please remain seated", this goes on for duration of the 2nd round of opening scene, then we move into the 1st scene where you finally see the family. It finishes, then nothing and the spiel starts again. We are treated to a 2nd showing of the 1st scene, complete with CM spieling to remain seated. Once that one was finished and we moved on, the folks in our theater erupted in applause. I'm thinking the COP has not had that much applause since opening day! E-stop on the COP, that is something special!

Pirates of the Caribbean. Our last day at the park. We board, looks like a good group of people who will following the rules and we set out. All is good, until I see a flash, it is from the next set of boats that loaded, but the boat directly behind us. We get down the water fall and we're a decent distance away that it is not too annoying, but it is constant. I yelled no flash photography and it stopped, but probably just long enough for the flash to recycle on a battery that is being quickly drained. At this point their boat is closer and I am really annoyed. Normally I just do my best to ignore it. My wife fires back a shot (she took their picture, complete with flash), it upset me, but at this point what is one more flash. I am wondering what kind of gear this SG has that he can rip off pictures as quick as he can. I find out at the exit when I wait for them. Yes, I waited, they were right behind us, and unloaded when we did so it was not a long wait. Is he packing a Canon or Nikon with Speedlite/Speedlight? Nope, just a sony p&s, the grandfather is packing a 2nd p&s, and between the two of them we're in the middle of a flash thunderstorm.

"Nice job ruining the ride, did you not pay attention to the spiel that says no flash pictures?" I say. The fire back "I didn't see the sign!" I respond, "you need to LISTEN to the SAFETY spiel next time, you just ruined the ride for all of these people!" At this point the poor CM at unload is telling us to move on, which I gladly do, however the wife (whose husband was manning camera 1) starts telling me not to yell at a 70 year old man. The battle continues up the ramp and into the store. She starts yelling for Security and I am all for having them come by. Then they start cussing at us. I'm called an A-hole, and then she tells my wife that we started cussing at them first. Okay, I may have raised my voice, but I am not going to cuss in front of strangers kids. At that point, I knew this was going no where, so I grabbed my wife who was engaging the enemy and said "Look, we have to leave in a few hours, let's just go and have fun, for our kids sake." So we head to the strollers, leaving the family of flashers behind. My wife said we should probably let a CM know why this started, so the poor CM at the entrance is notified that it started because that family was running a 2 camera shoot from their boat with more flash than the scene with the skeleton manning the helm. "My husband yelled at them for shooting flash pictures the ENTIRE time!" she says. CM just extends his had to me with a smile and shakes my hand. Well, flashing family catches us talking to him and comes up. They start in again with the false accusations, even telling him "we apologized to them!" (never happened) and I said to her, look, we're not going to get anywhere it is best if we just part ways. She agrees, but keeps running her mouth. Now, I am holding my 2 year old and wearing a backpack full of diapers, wipes, snacks, etc. I said, "Lady, just shut up and go" and repeated it. Well, now her husband decides it is a good time to "bow up" and threatens me for telling her to shut up. I respond with "you're a big man to come after someone holding a child!" I knew what was going to happen if I stuck around, the 2 year old would be going to mom, the backpack to the ground and I'd be taking this guy to the ground. So I told my wife, let's go have fun. We left the poor CM to have to listen to this family. I meant to go back later and apologize, but we didn't make it by. Yes, I was a SG for engaging this family, but someone had to. Maybe their kids will think twice. Oh wait, probably not, two generations were stupid. I doubt it will skip the third.

I did have a nice talk with Abby after that, saying that we should always follow the rules, listen to the safety spiels and the CM's directions. She agreed and we enjoyed the rest of our time.

[ktulu]

Now, that was not the first fight that day. We were on the bus heading to the airport. Now, there were tons of people waiting to leave. Enough to fill up the bus that already picked up guests at other resorts. This was not even supposed to be our bus, the guy happened to drive by and circle around. The driver did tell us that the dispatcher had not sent a bus for us. So, we file in, get seats and we don't move. A family is trying to board and get seats. Well, not enough to go around. The driver asks if some people will step off and wait for the next bus that is coming to accommodate this family. A family of three steps off, and then it starts. The entire left side of the bus rushes to the right side, and we see the dad of the family that stepped off jumping onto the wall to jump down on the guy who wanted on, we'll call him George. We're guessing that George was mouthing off to anyone who would listen, and the other guy had enough. George does get onto the bus, into the seat in front of us. That is when another guest at the front of the bus says that he was hit/pushed by George. So, the driver says George has to get off the bus, other guest is saying it and then George's wife comes down the aisle and starts yelling at 'poor ole George', saying she has had enough of his crap and he needs to just off the bus. He leaves, and we depart. I was worried I was going to have to restrain this guy when the other guest started in on how he was hit/pushed by him. Man, what a last day!

[ktulu]

Okay, so, the good!

We go through Mickey's house and then onto the Judge's tent to meet Mickey. We get our turn, and we walk into the door. I am carrying Paige, the 2 year old who LOVES Mickey and Minnie, and who is waiting, both of them! She is so excited, the attendant and the photopass photographers are both commenting on how cute she is with her excitement. Of course she does not want to get too close, but we get some good shots, and Abby, the 4 year old, gets her autographs. She is all about the autographs this trip.

Abby is really happy, she is 40 1/4 inches tall! Her first "big kid" ride is Test Track, and she loved it, minus the "hot part", where she closes her eyes. Well, she had her eyes closed at the barrier test too, but I got her to open them when we were outside. She rides Soarin', and loved it. On one of our MK days, she rides Big Thunder, loved it. Splash Mountain, loved it, minus her bottom getting wet from the seat. She did not like Stitch, cause he burped in her face and it was stinky. She did ask me if I saw him on the Castle, my response, "of course I did!" At DHS, she rode Tower of Terror, LOVED it! I thought that would be the one she would not like. My little girl is growing up too fast. Of all the rides she didn't want to do again, Stitch was the only one. We were lucky enough to ride Big Thunder back to back when a family knew the CM from their hometown. Abby was really excited about that!

Next post, the very special Extra Magic Hours!

[Ms. Matterhorn]

Wow, ktulu, sorry your trip was marred by SGs. Too bad the CM on Pirates didn't let your family ride again since the flash photography spoiled the ride.

[ktulu]

So, our MK Extra Magic Hours was originally from 12-2, but I guess the crowds made it extend to 12-3. I know there were lots of Europeans who extended their stay due to the volcano.

So, we were going through Fantasyland on our way to Big Thunder. We see Chip and Dale, get their autographs (hadn't seen them yet) and pictures, but the two tween's in front of us were asked if they wanted to ride Dumbo with Chip and Dale. Abby is excited for them, but we have plans so we head off. As we pass by Dumbo, Paige says "bye bye Goofy" and keeps repeating it. Jill says wait, she see's Goofy, and we turn and see Goofy riding Dumbo, and Pluto was on board too! I turn and see a line wrapping around by Sir Mickey's and say that Mickey is probably over there. Do we want to see him? Of course, so we head over. The line is long for EMH standards, and Pluto arrives across the walkway to meet guests. I take Abby over for another autograph and pictures before re-joining Paige and Jill in line for Mickey AND Minnie! Our turn comes, and excited children (one from a distance) see Mickey and Minnie. Abby tells Mickey how Goofy and Pluto were riding Dumbo and Chip and Dale were going to ride with some girls. We get our pictures and (more) autographs, and then head out. That's when the attendant stops me, comes close and asks "If I can make it happen, would you be interested in riding Dumbo with Mickey and Minnie?" Uh, well you know, we were going to go and ride Big Thunder, OF COURSE WE ARE! So, we don't tell the girls, but sit down on a bench and wait. Mickey and Minnie needed a cheesecake break, but they come back quickly and the attendant gives us the "just a couple more minutes" gesture. Finally the line is cleared out, and we're off! The photopass photographer is snapping away like crazy and Abby walks hand in hand with Mickey and Minnie. We stop for a family photo in front of the Castle, and then head off. The photopass CM is running ahead and sliding on the wet concrete making me nervous, for her AND the camera. We get to Dumbo, and the question is asked "Do you mind if Mickey and Minnie go for a ride?" Of course not! Abby gets into an elephant, followed by Mickey. We put Paige in one, Minnie sits down, but Paige is calling out for Mommy and Daddy, so we take her out and let another kid ride with Minnie. Jill and Paige take the elephant in front of Minnie's, I am behind Mickey and Abby and we're off! I noticed that there were no other guests on board, just us! In all, the photopass CM took 32 or 33 pictures. Yes, I am buying the CD :) I thank everyone, tears forming, make note of the attendant's name (there will be a letter mailed soon!) and let everyone know that I thought that Walt was looking down and smiling right now. Mickey and Minnie shake their heads in agreement, and I get a thumbs up from Mickey. More hugs, handshakes, and thank you's all around and we set off.

But wait, there is more!

Goofy is standing near the Carousel and we approach him. Abby tells him about the fun we had, and he dances around with her. Then we see Pluto, so Goofy takes Abby to see Pluto. Pluto takes Abby from Goofy, which makes Goofy sad, so they go back. Then, the question, "would you like to ride the Carousel with Goofy and Pluto?" OF COURSE! I take Jill's camera and shoot video of the ride.

The ride ends and we have time to ride one more ride that night, do we care, NO!

I must say, despite the bad, this was probably the best trip to WDW we've had. We only saw Shorty, and it was brief time, but he is a really great guy and we were sad he had to go home and have a life :) I'm glad he chose to visit EPCOT the same day we did, it was totally on the fly!

Anyway, thanks to the fine WDW CM's for an awesome time!

[DragonFox98]

Oh...My...Gosh!!!! This is so wonderful! (the post above, not the one about the SGs!) I am so happy for you and your family, ktulu!!! Isn't four such a great age! (not that I'm in a hurry for mine to grow up)


As for your first post....when we went in September, I swear we were in CoP for almost an hour. The ride was obviously in glitch mode and we had to sit through the first scene twice, well, some family didn't like that, actually got up, went to the door and left. I could not believe it!!! So, naturally, the ride had to be reset. It took awhile, but we saw the whole thing!

Again, glad your trip was filled with magic!

[Main Streeter]

So, our MK Extra Magic Hours was originally from 12-2, but I guess the crowds made it extend to 12-3.

YES! YES! I LOVE U! This was a question I had for you. Knew EMH were extended but no one believed me until this post. Being a night person these EMH are perfect. Not great for my guests but oh well. ;) Thank you Kman. :)

[ktulu]

YES! YES! I LOVE U! This was a question I had for you. Knew EMH were extended but no one believed me until this post. Being a night person these EMH are perfect. Not great for my guests but oh well. ;) Thank you Kman. :)

No problem! This is the 2nd time I've been at the MK until 3 AM. Something magical about it, but I did feel sorry for the CM's who had to work that late. We did thank them though :)

[February]

aww, thanks for telling your stories ktulu (sorry about the SGTs)

The story about your magical rides with the stars gave me goosebumps and brought tears to my eyes- Abby must've been in absolute heaven (maybe even moreso her parents though- I know that's happened with us before- that we were more moved by the magic then even our child was knowing how much trouble the CMs went to to make it for us)

This is why I will never ever tire of going to WDW.

Man, I miss it. I wanna go hoooome.

bru

[DisneyMom]

Ktulu, that was nothing short of AMAZING, you and family will never forget your trip! Of course we need to see the pictures! ;)
Glad you had the guts to tell off the SG's, A LOT braver than I am
Oprah says something about realizing that some people are simply unable to reach above Planarium (flatworm) level