I need to back up a bit to Magic Kingdom. It seemed like at this point the kids were either taking it all in or they could really care less where they were as long as there was stuff to do. Correction, fun stuff to do. We tried to hit all of the major rides/attractions. I'm checking my phone periodically to make certain we are headed in the right direction and to the shortest line. Yes, there are apps for that. Those Disney World apps make life a lot easier. I know which days are good/bad days for which parks, wait times on rides and a map of each park. Awesome!!
So, we are walking around to our next destination which is Pirates of the Caribbean. I check my phone and what do you know, the ride is down. Down! Seriously? I didn't think any ride would be down at Disney. As we are walking I decide to find a park employee and ask what was going on. Finally, someone to ask but he's helping someone else. I wait ever so patiently only to find out he doesn't know the answer to my question. I thank him and start to catch up with my family who was on a search for something else to do.
I turn to look behind me. I felt someone on my heels. You always know when someone is closing in on you, and there he was. There was the park employee I was just talking with. He was an older man. He seemed nice enough. He was asking questions as he tried to keep up.
Park Employee: "Where are you from?" "Since you live so close I bet you've been here before?" Me: "No, we haven't been as a family. This is the first time for our kids."
Park Employee: "Oh!"
He was a very nice man but I started to think this guy was taking his job a little too seriously. He followed us all the way to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and then said, "I have something special for you to do this afternoon if you are interested."
My husband's and son's expressions must have led him to believe they thought he was a timeshare salesman. He came back with," No, I'm not selling timeshares or anything else. I'm extending an invitation for your family to be in the Magic Kingdom parade. Would you be interested?" WHAT! Jon and I look at one another and then the kids. The most surprising answer came from my 14 year-old son. He smiled and said, "Sure!" My 10 year-old daughter's face lit up too. That alone was worth it. The Disney employee said, "Okay, meet me at the front of the park at 2:40." The magic of Disney!
Every hour my son inquired about the time, how long it would take to get to the front of the park from where we were and reminded me that we should probably get there a little early. It was only 10:30. This was coming from a kid that is so laid back it is painful. He's late everywhere he goes, which incidentally drives me insane but I've had to learn to live with it. Live with it until now :0) I almost wanted to hug him. Some of me was rubbing off on him. I'm so proud!
We get to our meeting spot, where the parade starts, and look around for the man that we spoke to earlier. 2:30 turns to 2:35. No park employee. My husband and I are starting to sweat it. Later my husband told me he was thinking, "What if this guy was just fooling around or he forgot?" I was just thinking we might be in the wrong spot. A little prayer was said that there would be follow-thru and that we WERE in the right spot.
2:40 on the nose and up walks our man. In his hands are mouse ears that have been embroidered on the back with our first names. We were told we need to wear these in the parade. Along with that was a certificate showing that we were the Grand Marshals of the parade for that day! Everyone put their ears on with pride.
It seemed as if the parade went on for miles. That evening our arms were tired from waving and our jaws were sore from smiling so much. It was an experience of a lifetime!
So, we are walking around to our next destination which is Pirates of the Caribbean. I check my phone and what do you know, the ride is down. Down! Seriously? I didn't think any ride would be down at Disney. As we are walking I decide to find a park employee and ask what was going on. Finally, someone to ask but he's helping someone else. I wait ever so patiently only to find out he doesn't know the answer to my question. I thank him and start to catch up with my family who was on a search for something else to do.
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| All of us in our mouse ears! |
Park Employee: "Where are you from?" "Since you live so close I bet you've been here before?" Me: "No, we haven't been as a family. This is the first time for our kids."
Park Employee: "Oh!"
He was a very nice man but I started to think this guy was taking his job a little too seriously. He followed us all the way to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and then said, "I have something special for you to do this afternoon if you are interested."
My husband's and son's expressions must have led him to believe they thought he was a timeshare salesman. He came back with," No, I'm not selling timeshares or anything else. I'm extending an invitation for your family to be in the Magic Kingdom parade. Would you be interested?" WHAT! Jon and I look at one another and then the kids. The most surprising answer came from my 14 year-old son. He smiled and said, "Sure!" My 10 year-old daughter's face lit up too. That alone was worth it. The Disney employee said, "Okay, meet me at the front of the park at 2:40." The magic of Disney!
Every hour my son inquired about the time, how long it would take to get to the front of the park from where we were and reminded me that we should probably get there a little early. It was only 10:30. This was coming from a kid that is so laid back it is painful. He's late everywhere he goes, which incidentally drives me insane but I've had to learn to live with it. Live with it until now :0) I almost wanted to hug him. Some of me was rubbing off on him. I'm so proud!
We get to our meeting spot, where the parade starts, and look around for the man that we spoke to earlier. 2:30 turns to 2:35. No park employee. My husband and I are starting to sweat it. Later my husband told me he was thinking, "What if this guy was just fooling around or he forgot?" I was just thinking we might be in the wrong spot. A little prayer was said that there would be follow-thru and that we WERE in the right spot.
2:40 on the nose and up walks our man. In his hands are mouse ears that have been embroidered on the back with our first names. We were told we need to wear these in the parade. Along with that was a certificate showing that we were the Grand Marshals of the parade for that day! Everyone put their ears on with pride.
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| Before the parade started |
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| Hey Woody! Watcha doing? |
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