It's a Small, Small World

I've been in love with Disney World since I was a little 6 year old in a mini-skirt and earth shoes, posing with Mickey in front of the chocolate-covered Frozen Banana stand. I loved Disney World when all there was was a Magic Kingdom with a Howard Johnson's nearby. I loved Disney World when "having breakfast with a character" meant going to the all you can eat buffet and having a gum-chewing 60 year old waitress with a bee-hive call you Sugar Pie as she re-filled your amber colored plastic juice glass with chocolate milk. I loved Disney World back when an E-Ticket had nothing to do with the electronic ticket that spits out at you from the Delta kiosk at JFK after you insert you credit card at least 3 times before getting it in facing the right way.

Some time in the 1970s I went to Disney for the first time with my Dad and he did all the dad-on-vacation-alone-with-no-mom-there things that dads do … like putting my hair in 2 pony tails that verged on child abuse (too tight, uneven, hair all knotty). To make up for it he bought me anything that had Minnie Mouse on it – feeding an addiction I'd had no inkling of before setting foot in Orlando, but an addiction I couldn't shake and one I fell prey to every time we passed a gift shop.

We went back the following year with my Mom. For me it meant better hair this time, but less presents as my mom (or "bad cop") put her foot down against "all that nonsense". And rightly so, because once I had gotten home from my trip with dad, all my Minnie items promptly were lost, discarded, broken or traded away.

Then there was this long lull that involved no trips to Disney. When friends of mine went and came back with gushing tales of Epcot I looked at them quizzically. Ep-what? Did it sell Frozen Bananas too?

And so the years dragged on, Disney-less, until some time when I was in my mid 20s and my childhood friend, M (first half of M+M) invited me to join her family for a few days in the parks. In SUMMER ... So my first foray back to Disney brought with it lines that funneled through every available crowd-management tool invented. A good line meant only a 1 hour wait. ("Let's get on this one while it's still short!") Even FastPass (though a good idea in theory) becomes nothing but a funny little notion during those kid-chocked months. Still, I loved every minute of it and couldn't wait to go back. At a different time of year of course ... and with my Boo.

Quibbit and I decided to go in mid-December which is a bad time to leave, but a great time to go. Okay, so it meant writing the Christmas cards in November, but it was worth it.

We Stayed At Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
I'm not a beach person. You'll never find me spending money on a Caribbean vacation. So, there's only one explanation as to why I decided to stay at the Caribbean Beach Resort: the other mid-priced resorts were full. But surprise surprise -- turns out Quibbit and I really did enjoy the benefits of the beach; we spent two or three nights rocking in the hammock there after a long day in the park, looking up at the stars through the palm tree fronds and enjoying the sound of the fireworks exploding over Epcot.

We Saw Fireworks Every Night
I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy, do or die. I was born on the 3rd of July (aka Independence Day Eve) so I've been imprinted strongly with a love of fireworks. If someone's shooting them off, I'm watching them.

It Was Quibbit's First Time
This meant I got to be tour guide, but also got to be shown a few things myself. I wanted this to be a great vacation for him, so we focused on whatever he wanted to do.

:: Disney-MGM Studios ::
The Disney MGM park is a nice way to start your vacation; really manageable and nicely walkable, which is why it made sense to start there the afternoon we arrived. Nothing like being in a theme park just 4 hours after leaving JFK!

Half-a-Star
The Great Movie Ride
The outside looks like Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and the inside has great costumes from movies (like the fur coats from the Chronicles of Narnia), and even the wait is fun, as you watch scenes from old movies play out in front of you on a huge screen. But after that the slow pace of the ride, the guide's incessant (scripted) chatter which often is spoken over the animatrons' dialogue, and the lack of anything new makes it a big yawn.

Always Fun
Star Tours
Muppet Vision 3-D
Tower of Terror
I get scared just in the lobby! The idea of plunging down the elevator shaft is terrifying and thrilling and gets to me the minute I see that dusty tableau at the entrance of the tower. I'm usually halfway chickened out by the time I get to the "boiler room" but then I look around and see a bunch of 12 year olds. 'nuff said.

First Time On
Rock 'n' Rollercoaster Oh MAN! What the hell! Whoooo! I'd never had the courage to go on it before, but this time I figured if I was going to die at least Quibbit would be by my side. I am NOT kidding when I tell you that after the 2 minute ride (or less?) our insides were so shocked that we hobbled like senior citizens to the nearest bench and then used the excuse that "we need protein" to get a smoked turkey leg.

Favorite Thing About MGM This Trip

The Osborne Family Christmas Lights Display
While I admit it's a little surreal to travel from an ACTUAL NYC street that is ACTUALLY cold all the way to an MGM façade of a NYC street in Florida that just "looks like" NYC and is sprinkled with fake snow that shimmers down on you Edward Scissorhands style, there's a bit of magic in the whole thing. When that switch was flipped and those billions of lights came on, there was nothing more beautiful to me.

:: Epcot ::

When you see the original plans for Epcot it's sad to see how far it got away from it's original concept. I would have loved to see the bullet train ride that was slated for Japan, or the other countries that never made it to the world showcase. Still, Epcot as it is now is a great deal of fun and for Quibbit, who is all brainy and stuff, it was a good place to soak in a lot of information in one day.

Half-a-Star
The Seas w. Nemo and Friends

Last time I was at Disney World this ride was just called The Seas and had a whole different feel to it. Not so ... um ... Nemo-ish? The movie was heartwarming and great ... but I liked the old ride better. Is it possible to resent the Disneyfying of Disney? More on that later ...

Also – Spaceship Earth was closed which sucks since you're taunted from all over the park by that huge geodesic dome.

Always Fun
Ellen's Energy Adventure
Test Track

First Time On
Mission Space (We took the option of being on the "Green Team" – the milder version of the ride - since Quibbit was getting a little green himself!)

Favorite Thing About Epcot This Trip / Future World

Soarin'

Favorite Epcot Country - Germany

Their beer garden is so authentic -- it's the next best thing to being in Germany during Oktoberfest. Plus, it's really nice to drink beer in the middle of the day.

Bavaria's in my blood, and when you can't get all the way to Muenchen, this will work just fine.

:: Magic Kingdom ::

Magic Kingdom ... the park that started it all. Like a whole little world unto itself. I always save it for the 2nd or 3rd day, because I'm too excited to see it the first day -- I need to ease into Disney Mode before walking down Main Street. But once I'm there ...

Half-a-Star
Stitch's Great Escape!
If you came looking for the old ride that was ridiculously scary (not simply ridiculous) then it's a little disappointing to see it replaced with this ride. If I wanted to see Stitch bounce mischievously around a room, burping chili hot dogs, I'd get up early on a Saturday morning and watch the Disney Channel. It was Nemo all over again.

Always Fun
Big Thunder Mountain
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (one of Quibbit's favorites)
The Haunted Mansion

Pirates of the Caribbean
Space Mountain

First Time On
Jungle Cruise

Hall of Presidents

Mickey's PhilharMagic
Snow Whites Scary Adventures
Splash Mountain - yes hard to believe I'd never been before ... but the lines were always too long.

Favorite Thing About Magic Kingdom This Trip
Being there with Quibbit. Magic Kingdom is one of those leave-your-grown-up- self-at-the-door kinda places ... more than any other place in WDW. And Quibbit is the most open, uninhibited, unguarded person I've ever known. He is completely joyful and was 100% immersed in everything we did, even "WWWOOOO!!!!"-ing on the Winnie the Pooh ride. He is a total treasure, and seeing the most Magical Place on Earth through his eyes was the most freeing experience I've had. Plus, you know, I just love the guy.

:: Animal Kingdom ::

Some time last summer Quibbit and I had taken a day and gone to the Bronx Zoo. Seeing how much he enjoyed all the animals made me know that Animal Kingdom would probably be a great place to be with him. It was as great way to end our vacation so we spent a nice leisurely last day there.

Half-a-Star

Rafiki's Planet Watch is, I'm sure, a whole boatload of fun if you're 3 years old or a tired family who's looking to get away from the crowds, or ... I don't know. I don't know what would make this place fun. To me, it's just some crowd control tool, which probably works well enough. But if this hadn't been Quibbit's first time, and if I hadn't made a deal that I'd see all the things he asked about, then this would have been one I'd have skipped.

Always Fun

It's Tough To Be A Bug

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Dinosaur
Primeval Whirl

First Time On

Kali River Rapids

Expedition Everest




Favorite Thing About Animal Kingdom This Trip
Going on all the new thrill rides were amazing; and hands down my most favorite memory of Animal Kingdom was seeing the photos that get taken automatically (and are for sale) after Everest and Dinosaur -- the look of sheer terror on Quibbit's face had me laughing for days every time I recalled it.

Wrap Up
I've said for years that when you're an adult and you don't have a child, your inner child becomes your child. And I could think of no better way to herald in the Christmas season than to take little Luvviepuffaroo and little Quibbit to the place where dreams come true. Cue music ...