Disney - Part I
If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse. ~Walt Disney
Ah, finally some peace and quiet to reflect on seven days with my three favorite people in the entire world: Cam, Teenie and Dude. I learned so much about all three of them on this trip. What I learned from them was far more valuable. Now that we are home I see how much closer we are which is priceless.
The trip started out sort of rocky as some of you may have seen if you were following me on Twitter. You see, I had set such high expectations that we were going to have a fantastic time, happy time, wonderful time while smiling and laughing if it killed us for seven days. There would be no arguing, no tears, no meltdowns. Everyone would act like perfect little fairy angels and Tinkerbell would sprinkle us with pixie dust if necessary.
This was my dream trip, right?
What usually happens when you set such unrealistic, high expectations for everyone around you? Usually you are let down. Our family learned this the hard way on the Rock N’ Roller Coaster. That’s right, Aerosmith almost took the Clusterfook family down on Day One of Disney with their roller coaster in Hollywood Studios.
Dude insisted that all four of us, Teenie the eight yr. old included, go on the roller coaster that goes from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds. When you mention those statistics to an eight and 11 year old tweens who are safety obsessed, no thanks to their OCD mother, they tend to be gun shy about going zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds.
The girls refused to go on the roller coaster and Dude had a nuclear meltdown that made him walk out of Hollywood Studios. I was flabbergasted that my relaxed, chilled-out Dude had a meltdown over a roller coaster. It wasn’t about the roller coaster though. The girls and I sat by the Rock N’ Roller Coaster for about an hour and waited for him. When he finally returned he told us that he was disappointed because he had these expectations that all of us would go on every ride together.
Those unrealistic, high expectations…let him down.
Once we worked it all out it was 3:00 PM and 92 degrees so we called it a day and went back to the resort.
The resort. Oh my God, it was gorgeous, tranquil and serene and yes, we were at a Disney Resort. We stayed at the Coronado Springs. I chose the Coronado Springs for a few reasons. It has a lobby that looks the lobby of the resort Dude and I stayed at when we went to Cancun.
The resort also has a Spanish and Ancient Mexico theme so I wanted to recapture some of that for us and to give the girls a feel for what our resort looked like in Cancun. Although Dude and I needed time together to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary they felt left out…I thought the Coronado Springs would be a nice touch.
Plus the pool has a really cool water slide that they spent two hours at a time on.
At EPCOT I displayed my excellent parenting skills when Cam repeated “I’m hungry” 20 times. “I’m hungry, I’m hungry, I’m hungry, I’m hungry…”
“Cam, I’ve acknowledged your hunger. Please stop repeating it. I get it. I’m not purposely starving you. If you repeat it one more time I will make you eat fish in Norway.”
Now, I’m not exactly sure why fish in Norway would be some kind of punishment but I really thought it would make the “I’m hungry, I’m hungry,” stop. Unfortunately the only way to stop a truly starving child in EPCOT is to stop at a pastry shop in France and feed her chocolate cake for dinner. I am now the epitome of good parenting. Sign me up for Parents Magazine.
Just kidding on the Parents Magazine. I’m over that bullshit piece of fluff. Want to know what real parenting is about, just ask…I’ll tell you all about it.
Anyway, while Cam and Dude had the cake, Teenie had chocolate mousse. I had creme brulee. I believe by the time we entered Japan the sugar coma set in. I remember seeing a lot of Hello Kitty stuff and wanting sushi. We were really tired and hot so we found a spot in Germany to watch Illuminations: Reflections of Earth…Fireworks. The fireworks were cool.
So by the end of Day Two in Disney my body felt like it was going to shut down on me. I was so exhausted that I went to bed thinking that I wouldn’t get out of bed for Day Three and the rest of my family would have to go to Magic Kingdom without me.
And now I need to get to bed and get some rest…so more about the trip in my next post…
Picture: “Hannah Monteenie” - Teenie with Pal Mickey, in her Hannah Montana tank top and hat waiting for the bus.
Filed under Disney World, Dude |20 Responses to “Disney - Part I”
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12:09 am on May 15th, 2008
So did you actually go on Rock n Roller Coaster? I’m glad you enjoyed your hotel. I stayed there before and it’s just beautiful. I can’t wait to hear more!
Jens last blog post..The Story of Joseph - Before The Boys
12:28 am on May 15th, 2008
The resort is beautiful! It’s amazing how much stress a “relaxing” vacation can create, isn’t it? I’m glad it all worked out, and I’m so glad you all had this time together.
BlondeBloggers last blog post..Best Day Evah!!!
1:05 am on May 15th, 2008
Chocolate cake for dinner is perfectly acceptable in Disney!!!! Or on Mother’s Day. Or when you are out with the girls. And on your birthday!
Mrs. Fs last blog post..My Twin
1:51 am on May 15th, 2008
I have been following your tweets and I was really shocked to hear about Dude storming off. But now that I know the story it makes sense. It’s not just you who had expectations. I’m glad you resolved it and chocolate cake always helps.
I don’t know about fish in Norway though. It actually sounds good to me! Even though I hate fish.
Colin Brookss last blog post..update :: mum’s doing okay
7:27 am on May 15th, 2008
I am so glad that you guys found your way back to each other after having your expectations for the trip not met.
And if you told me if I didn’t quiet down about being hungry or you were gonna make me eat fish in Norway? I’d shut my piehole quick!
7:29 am on May 15th, 2008
Thank God I like Aerosmith.
I absolutely loved the Coronado Springs.
Mrs. F, Thank you. Thank you so much for validating desert for dinner. I told my children that in France they always eat desert first.
Of course I should explain to them that I was lying.
Colin, I was shocked when he actually did it. You have no idea how badly I was craving fish and chips when we passed Great Britain.
That’s probably where I got the “fish” idea.
I pictured an entire scaly fish, head and all. Then I had “Fish Heads” playing in my head. I was hoping she would have the same image.
Demented at best.
7:31 am on May 15th, 2008
8:45 am on May 15th, 2008
What neat reasons for choosing that hotel. I bet sharing those cancun memories with your children will be something they will always remember. I like when generations pass down memories like that in my family.
8:49 am on May 15th, 2008
I’m really impressed with you guys that you were able to get over that whole “unrealistic expectations” bit so quickly.
As we’ve discussed, having those expectations lead to a meltdown is SO normal. But so is letting it ruin your trip.
You guys are an amazing family.
Miss Britts last blog post..Because No One Has Ever Obsessed About Their Reunion
9:04 am on May 15th, 2008
What Britt said. I wish I had gotten the chance to visit on Sunday, but we had to go spend time with my parents.
Avitables last blog post..Nigger
9:33 am on May 15th, 2008
I think everyone has those high expectations when they take an awesome vacation. I think it’s kinda cute that he got upset for the reason that he did.
Bs last blog post..Hey Hey Mr. Postman
11:37 am on May 15th, 2008
“eat fish in Norway”! That’s hilarious!
annies last blog post..I Know You Don’t Come Here for Thought Provoking Conversation…
12:14 pm on May 15th, 2008
I’m with Mrs. F - chocolate cake IS perfectly acceptable dinner while on vaca, and it works for breakfast, too!
Tugs last blog post..Awesomeness
12:49 pm on May 15th, 2008
Disney is not as relaxing as it could be for the parents in charge … that’s my experience, anyway — the fact that you have to be watchfull (and parentful) always keeps a little bit of ‘on the edge’ there.
My middle boy and I were seat mates on the Aerosmith roller coaster. I can still hear him singing “doot doot, doot doot, Dude looks like a lady,” which is all either of us know of the song.
(And I may still be just the tiniest bit motion sick from the experience.)
delmers last blog post..Another test — I promise, the last one today
5:24 pm on May 15th, 2008
I actually think that is sweet that your husband got huffy for that reason.
We went to Disney last November and before the trip I was not excited at all. Because of my negative expectations, the trip was amazing. But who knows what I would think if I had expected it to be fun. (we went with my parents in law and while I love them, an entire week with them is a lot to take and I was worried)
radioactivegirltoris last blog post..I’m In Love With My Weather Man
12:02 am on May 16th, 2008
you know what i’m thinking? ‘dad is great … feeds us chocolate cake … dad is great … feeds us chocolate cake!’ it would work with dude as well as … hmm, i guess mom? haha! i wish mom would have let me eat chocolate cake for dinner when i was 11 and in disney. sheesh! all i got was dr. io, or mr. io, something like that, starring michael jackson. yikes!
7:07 am on May 16th, 2008
Miss Britt, We’re a pretty resilient family, at least I think we are so we get over stuff pretty quickly.
You hit the nail on the head as soon as I told you I had high expectations
I’m not sure that we are amazing or if we have just learned from experience…perhaps we are just weathered.
Avitable, You missed the manatee. That was cooler than Disney.
B, Well, I think Dude is kind of cute even when he isn’t upset so he had me either way but I’m certainly happy he got over it.
annie, Unfortunately I won’t be able to use that line on her again unless I’m either in Norway or EPCOT.
Tug, Apparently it is O.K. for snack time as well because there was a fight over chocolate cake yesterday in our home.
Delmer, I hear what you are saying because it’s so crowded and kids just want to run free.
In fact we saw a child on a leash in EPCOT!
Perhaps it’s all as well that I didn’t go on the roller coaster if it would have caused motion sickness. That’s the last thing I need!!!
Radioactivegirltori, The first time I went to Disney it was in November around Thanksgiving four years ago, with my mother-in-law. I didn’t want to go and had a blast in the end. Funny how it works out that way.
Sister D, Oye, you went to Disney during the Michael Jackson days? You are missing Pirates of the Carribean and Expedition Everest!
Get thee to Disney World Sister!
8:59 am on May 16th, 2008
Ah, so glad that you got to Disney. Looking forward to the rest of the stories. Love ya.
Karls last blog post..Ugh
10:23 am on May 16th, 2008
I’m glad you had a great time! Always wanted to try one of those resort things.
Captain Steves last blog post..The New Iris Uber Alles 2008!
3:24 pm on May 17th, 2008
Captain Steve, It was a great trip.