A Night at Disney and a Slide Show

I raised four girls – well, Bob and I raised four girls. (Actually, isn’t the correct word “reared” four girls? Oh, well!) So, when I spend time with four boys, my life instantly gets interesting. Fortunately, I did not spend time with all four boys at the same time. I think I would have lost at least some of my sanity!! Yet it is fun and as my girls would tell you, by the end of Tuesday night, I was getting rather “loopy”! I guess singing along with the music on Disney’s Main Street while waiting for the Christmas parade – and I might add, in the RAIN and rather loudly, could instantly make you loopy! Tim (our son-in-law) graciously offered his seat – right! In other words, the place he had picked on the curb! The poncho I had just purchased barely kept the rain from seeping through my jeans – well, the ‘seat’ part of my jeans. But the lower legs, I had to wring out the water a couple times!

Shall I backtrack, which is not unusual for me!! Tim and Sandi invited me to join them along with Roxanne and Kamen at Disney’s “A Very Merry Christmas Party” in Orlando. We stayed at the Port Orleans French Quarter. (Can I interject that when Sandi sent a text message about our hotel, she mistakenly wrote “POST Orleans” so from then on, it was Post Orleans to Roxanne and me! That is, until Roxanne tried to pronounce Concierge as “Consergee” and she decided that she couldn’t tease Sandi any more!)

Disney hosts the Party several nights throughout November and December. While the actual party doesn’t start until 7pm, you can get into the park around 4:30 or so. Sandi was ready and waiting and shooing us all out the door and onto the bus which would take us to the Magic Kingdom. When we got there, we traded our tickets for orange wristbands. After 7pm, anyone without a wristband would be escorted off the property.

Roxanne and Kamen headed back to Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain! This was to be Kamen’s first ride on a roller coaster! Roxanne explained that it was a train ride but it was probably the wildest train ride he had ever been on. Because it wasn’t particularly busy, they got off – and got right back on!!

I headed with Tim, Sandi and Tyler to the Jungle Cruise which took us to the “wild country”!! All kinds of animals – elephants, crocodiles and skeletons! As we were seated on the rustic boat, Tyler said rather loudly, “Nana, don’t be afraid. It will be okay!” I guess he didn’t think I quite got the message so he continued, “Nana, I’m right here. You will be safe!” Needless to say, that brought response from those sitting around us .. “Aaahhh!” This seven year old was committed to my safety. I am indeed blessed!!

I was quite entertained throughout the evening – from being part of a “Monsters Inc” event to entering the world of Buzz Lightyear and trying to aim and fire some sort of a laser gun, I was entertained! We found seats in “Mickey’s ’Twas the Night Before Christmas” although the little guys were not as delighted as us older folks. Then the real fun began!! We decided to grab something to eat – Okay, that wasn’t the real fun .. it was coming! After eating at “Cosmic” something-or-other, I opted out of going to the next attraction since Bob was going to call. And the next challenge was trying to find somewhere that wasn’t so noisy you had to yell to be heard! Granted, it was Christmas music and how can you not like that!! I finally found a spot, he called and just as I finished talking – it began to rain. It had been misting throughout the evening but as I decided to try to find the others, the rain began to pick up.

Try to find the back of the castle when it is spitting rain is difficult! And then it actually begin to blow a little and rain more! Fortunately, we all had cell phones (except for the boys, or course!) I found a kiosk of sorts which actually had a cover – and about 40 other folks (and me) used it for cover until the vendor decided that we had taken up enough room for long enough!! He ran us out about the time the fireworks began – yup, in the rain!

So, in the light of the fireworks, I decided to try to find my way to Main Street and maybe get into one of the little shops. I think I went in a circle to begin with! You would have thought as many times as we have been to the Magic Kingdom, I could get from the castle to the head of Main Street. But, of course, I’m not one to take an easy way – I can’t seem to make anything too easy! Finally!!! I got to one of the shops – AHHH! I’ve found the candy store and fudge!! Exactly what I wanted to get before we left for the night – surely, it is getting close to going back to the hotel room??? It’s like almost 10pm and aren’t we getting just a little tired – and all these people are heading for the entrance and surely it’s time to …. Take a rest!! OF COURSE NOT!!! WE HAVE TO WATCH THE PARADE!! AT 10:45 AT NIGHT!! IN THE RAIN!!! AND IT’S COLD!! AND WE ARE GETTING VERY WET!!

Okay, so I vented!! I’m back to where I began now – we were entertained as we waited by a variety of passerby’s (is that a word?) Tyler was wearing an “It’s my birthday” button so Mickey’s helpers gravitated to anyone who wore such a button – or one that said “1st Visit”. By the way, as we rode in the bus from Post Orleans hotel (yes, I spelled it wrong on purpose), Sandi and Roxanne set next to a family from Australia – yesterday was their first day in the U.S.! What a welcome – both girls did an awesome job representing all of us (collectively speaking). The mother wanted to know what we ate on holidays such as Christmas Day —the girls shared our personal traditions but explained that they were not necessarily the national preference for a certain holiday. (We have scalloped potatoes and ham on Christmas Day. It’s just what we have done for years!)

Anyway, back to the end of the day – we waited for the parade – and waited – and waited some more. Parts of my body (not mentioned here) were beginning to become numb! If only it could have wasted away some of the extra pounds there! Ha!! Finally, about 10:50 or so, we began to see the beginning of the parade. It is a new parade this year and – Cinderella’s castle has a new look for the holidays this year, too. So … it was a fun time! Until one of the floats broke down – all at once, we had to pull our feet back quickly as a little tractor of sorts came flying up beside the parade and guys were running as fast as they could. It seems the parade had come to a screeching halt for a few moments and dancers had to almost dance in place! In about 30 seconds, they had it back moving and were giving the A-Okay sign along the way!

(Check out the slide show … and laugh! It’s okay! I won’t be offended in the least!!)

And just as we were leaving, it began to snow lightly. In 70 degree weather? Right! Hey, anything can happen … after all, it’s the Magic Kingdom! We finished the day looking up into tiny, twinkling snowflakes drifting softly to the ground!

And we were glad to call it a day – well – we went to sleep at 2am! So, last night, I decided to 'call it a night' at 9:30pm!! I must be getting old!!