DLdad
09-18-2002, 10:21 AM
Before detailing the trip, just wanted to note that these attractions were closed: Matterhorn, Canal Botas, Casey Jr., Haunted Mansion, DL RR, and ... drumroll please... the Carrousel and Sleeping Beauty's castle. Saw a lot of workers on and around Matterhorn which had a number of sections painted for what looks like minor remodeling work (sorry, no pictures).
Now on with the trip detail...
My wife and I, along with Grandma, took our daughter (3 1/2) and son (1 1/2) to DL for their first time on Sept. 17th. We got there a little late due to heavy traffic on the way down. We entered the park at 9:40. We posed the kids for the obligatory pitcture in front of the Mickey flower face, although it was tough getting Kaitlyn to hold still :)
After restrooms and lockers, we did a quick stroll down Main Street headed for Dumbo! Kaitlyn loved it! Brendan was not too sure. After two Dumbo rides, we went to try Pinnochio. Grandma, Kaitlyn and I went on it, while mom and Brendan watched the Sword in the Stone ceremony. Kaitlyn did not like Pinnochio at all. Mom, Grandam and Kaitlyn then tried Peter Pan which Kaitlyn was so-so about. Mr. Toad was then end of the dark rides for her...
After Mr. Toads, we went into the Mad Hatter's shop in Fantasyland. All Kaitlyn had talked about was getting a Pluto hat as we were approaching the trip date. Mom couldn't bring herself to buy the Pluto baseball cap, but Kaitlyn got a "Gilligan" style (don't know what it's really called) hat with Pluto on it. We all took a Tea Cup ride before heading towards IASW. On the way, we stopped for a Pooh character greeting and photo shoot.
Kaitlyn was nervous when IASW headed indoors, but both kids REALLY liked it. Did that one twice more :) (starts humming... "It's a small world after all.." slaps self across face to stop).
After IASW we strolled over to Tomorrowland for lunch at Club Buzz. After lunch,we took a couple of laps on Autopia and a Monorail loop.
After the brief stay in TL, we headed to Toontown. Brendan fell asleep on the way, so Grandma stayed with him for most of Toontown. We decided to skip Roger Rabbit due to the dark ride issues.
Kaitlyn enjoyed all of Toontown excpet Gadget's Go Coaster left her a little shaken. She got terribly excited about meeting Pluto :) We ended our Toontown visit with a visit to Mickey's house, and a Trolley ride. Brendan woke up from his nap in Mickey's house.
We all headed back towards the hub, stopping for an ice cream from a cart on the way. After a quick locker visit to replenish snacks and drinks, we headed to Adventureland.
Kaitlyn had a disposable camera she was using to take her own pictures as we toured the park. At the entrance to Adevntureland, she started yelling about taking a picture of Pluto. We looked around for the Pluto we thought she must have spotted, but could not see one. Finally, we realized she meant a small stuffed Pluto that Grandma had bought for her back in Toontown. She posed her Pluto on a rock and snapped his picture :)
We headed over to Tarzan's Treehouse, and Kaitlyn and I strolled through while the rest of the group took a little break. After the Treehouse we all took a Jungle Cruise. The kids really enjoyed that, so we did it again.
The kids were starting to get a little grumpy and crabby (about 3:00-3:30 at this time). So we decided to wrap things up. Since Kaitlyn did not really like the dark rides, and was too short for Splash Mountain and the other E-Tickets, we did not make it over to NOS, Frontierland, or Critter Country on this trip.
We headed back towards the hub. We took in a Tiki show along the way (starts humming "In the Tiki Tiki Tiki..." slaps self across face to stop). Maynard was running the Tiki room. He went around placing napkins on people's heads before the show in case one of the birds happened to poop. :) Some of the guests looked a little worried... He even interacted with the birds, danced and sang along with them at points of the show. Was nice to see a CM play to the guests as much as hee does. Outside, while everyone else went for a restroom/diaper stop, I chatted with him a bit. He really seems to enjoy his job, and want to make guest's days just that much better.
Our last ride of the day was on the Rocket ships in TL. After that we hit Kaitlyn's highlight of the day. We walked along the path with the jumping fountains right next to the Rocket Ships. She can't stop talking about the water that shoots over your head while you walk!
After a stroll down Main Street and a couple of shopping stops, we walked back to the parking lot, and headed home.
All-in-all, it was a great day trip. Sure us adults would have enjoyed a couple of E-Ticket rides and a ride on POTC, but we went knowning that it would be a short day trip for the kids.
Now on with the trip detail...
My wife and I, along with Grandma, took our daughter (3 1/2) and son (1 1/2) to DL for their first time on Sept. 17th. We got there a little late due to heavy traffic on the way down. We entered the park at 9:40. We posed the kids for the obligatory pitcture in front of the Mickey flower face, although it was tough getting Kaitlyn to hold still :)
After restrooms and lockers, we did a quick stroll down Main Street headed for Dumbo! Kaitlyn loved it! Brendan was not too sure. After two Dumbo rides, we went to try Pinnochio. Grandma, Kaitlyn and I went on it, while mom and Brendan watched the Sword in the Stone ceremony. Kaitlyn did not like Pinnochio at all. Mom, Grandam and Kaitlyn then tried Peter Pan which Kaitlyn was so-so about. Mr. Toad was then end of the dark rides for her...
After Mr. Toads, we went into the Mad Hatter's shop in Fantasyland. All Kaitlyn had talked about was getting a Pluto hat as we were approaching the trip date. Mom couldn't bring herself to buy the Pluto baseball cap, but Kaitlyn got a "Gilligan" style (don't know what it's really called) hat with Pluto on it. We all took a Tea Cup ride before heading towards IASW. On the way, we stopped for a Pooh character greeting and photo shoot.
Kaitlyn was nervous when IASW headed indoors, but both kids REALLY liked it. Did that one twice more :) (starts humming... "It's a small world after all.." slaps self across face to stop).
After IASW we strolled over to Tomorrowland for lunch at Club Buzz. After lunch,we took a couple of laps on Autopia and a Monorail loop.
After the brief stay in TL, we headed to Toontown. Brendan fell asleep on the way, so Grandma stayed with him for most of Toontown. We decided to skip Roger Rabbit due to the dark ride issues.
Kaitlyn enjoyed all of Toontown excpet Gadget's Go Coaster left her a little shaken. She got terribly excited about meeting Pluto :) We ended our Toontown visit with a visit to Mickey's house, and a Trolley ride. Brendan woke up from his nap in Mickey's house.
We all headed back towards the hub, stopping for an ice cream from a cart on the way. After a quick locker visit to replenish snacks and drinks, we headed to Adventureland.
Kaitlyn had a disposable camera she was using to take her own pictures as we toured the park. At the entrance to Adevntureland, she started yelling about taking a picture of Pluto. We looked around for the Pluto we thought she must have spotted, but could not see one. Finally, we realized she meant a small stuffed Pluto that Grandma had bought for her back in Toontown. She posed her Pluto on a rock and snapped his picture :)
We headed over to Tarzan's Treehouse, and Kaitlyn and I strolled through while the rest of the group took a little break. After the Treehouse we all took a Jungle Cruise. The kids really enjoyed that, so we did it again.
The kids were starting to get a little grumpy and crabby (about 3:00-3:30 at this time). So we decided to wrap things up. Since Kaitlyn did not really like the dark rides, and was too short for Splash Mountain and the other E-Tickets, we did not make it over to NOS, Frontierland, or Critter Country on this trip.
We headed back towards the hub. We took in a Tiki show along the way (starts humming "In the Tiki Tiki Tiki..." slaps self across face to stop). Maynard was running the Tiki room. He went around placing napkins on people's heads before the show in case one of the birds happened to poop. :) Some of the guests looked a little worried... He even interacted with the birds, danced and sang along with them at points of the show. Was nice to see a CM play to the guests as much as hee does. Outside, while everyone else went for a restroom/diaper stop, I chatted with him a bit. He really seems to enjoy his job, and want to make guest's days just that much better.
Our last ride of the day was on the Rocket ships in TL. After that we hit Kaitlyn's highlight of the day. We walked along the path with the jumping fountains right next to the Rocket Ships. She can't stop talking about the water that shoots over your head while you walk!
After a stroll down Main Street and a couple of shopping stops, we walked back to the parking lot, and headed home.
All-in-all, it was a great day trip. Sure us adults would have enjoyed a couple of E-Ticket rides and a ride on POTC, but we went knowning that it would be a short day trip for the kids.