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Ground / Goofy's HUGE!
/ Part 6--The Meltdown |
samogram
Cast Member
Posts: 166
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 11-25-02 01:12 PM
Part 6—The Meltdown
The food court was crowded and DD was tired. Though we had talked about a more substantial breakfast than Danish, I think we settled for that because it was the shortest line. We were sleeping later or at least trying to, but all that did was mean the lines at the food court were long and we were thrown in there with all the rest of the cranky people. The kids were fussy and whiny (two of the lesser know dwarfs, don’t you know) and SIL was trying to keep everybody “up,” but spirits had pretty much disintegrated by the time we got to the van. It wasn’t funny anymore that every time we tried to go somewhere DH held up the tattered old map because no one else had a better one handy. And it wasn’t funny when we nearly got lost because there was a hole in the map where vital information happened to be.
Knowing what I know now, this was the worst possible day to visit Epcot. Sam was a little interested in the Future World part and so were DH and SIL. Molly just mostly fussed and so neither her dad nor her mom really wanted to push her stroller. We should have left then. Instead we slogged on until everyone bore little resemblance to the happy group that had landed at WDW on Saturday.
We left around 2:00 even though everyone’s spirits were sinking lower and lower. I loved Test Track and was fascinated by HISTA. In fact, HISTA kept the kids quiet for a while too. I think I am always so happy to be “out” on my scooter and able to enjoy things that I can have fun in a parking lot (oh, yeah, I did have fun in the parking lot!). DH would have stuck it out too, but the two younger generations were doomed to misery.
We had the delightful experience of the crowded food court again and DD and SIL got into a major row. I don’t know what it was about. Doesn’t really matter. The point was, a meltdown was in our future. The only questions would be “who” and “when?” Back at PO-R, the group decided to go over to PO-FQ to the doubloon Lagoon. My DD was also trying to get laundry done. DH and I stopped at Boatwright’s and made a PS for the evening, thinking a nice dinner might salvage the day. The CM was great; friendly and helpful.
I had actually started to think we could end the day peacefully when we met at the entrance of Boatwright’s. Now, we were talking to a different CM, the hall and entrance were very crowded and the CM said it would be 45 minutes to an hour before we would be seated even with the PS. The kids fussing was getting louder by the minute and my eye was starting to twitch. SIL and DD seemed to not be able to say a civil word to each other. We decided to go back to ye olde food court but could barely get through, the crowd was so bad.
Now we decided to go out of the “world” to eat, but before we could accomplish that, Miss Molly started throwing a ring-tailed-full-out fit. If your were at PO-R in the food court on November 7th around 8:00 p.m. perhaps you had the pleasure of observing this performance and the encore when my daughter had her meltdown. Not pretty…. Not pleasant….
I took the kids and we all lived through it, but it was not a good day.
I want to say here and now that I should have done what I had sworn (before we got there) I would do if anyone, on any day started to get frayed around the edges and that is, stop what you’re doing and do something less stressful.
I don’t know if I ever mentioned that my SIL has just received a fantastic promotion, but that involves the four of them moving three hours away from us almost to Arkansas. We’re thrilled for them we really are, but my one and only DD has never lived more than an hour and a half away. And I’ve been lucky to always be less than an hour away from Sam and Molly. While the transition is taking place, DD, Sam and Molly are living with us while SIL finds a place for them to live in a place where housing is very scarce. I know all of that led to the tension on this wicked Thursday, but I still think if I had put the breaks on sooner we could have salvaged the day and found whatever we all needed. I guess you live and learn.
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons; for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
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Tink *~*~*
Cast Member
Posts: 1066
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 11-25-02 10:06 PM
samogram, don't blame yourself.
It is inevitable with young'uns that young that there will be a meltdown, even in WDW. I remember hearing a distracted father sternly tell his melted-down son, "there will be no crying in the happiest place on earth". They need down time, because it is all too much stimulation. Even adults need down time from the parks (see my trip report and comments about the effect Universal had on me).
I've seen reports on RADP where people purposely build in a down day for every two they have been in the parks if they have young children. Even if you're just hangin' by the pool, doing the wash in the nearby laundry room, you're still in WDW and you're still having fun, but you're not subject to all those crowds and noise.
Oh, and room service is for down days! Just one room service, probably the breakfast meal, is all it takes to feel less harrassed. Another option is to send someone to Perkins off site. They are all over the place, and they do takeout for at least breakfast that I know of. Still another option - pizza delivery on your down day! I think I read on RADP that Domino's delivers on site.
The best thing about down days are the naps! You can have them by the pool, or you can have them in the quiet room, maybe with the lights out and just the tv on some cartoon channel, with the volume really low and the sleep timer set.
I've tried to think of all the things my friends with kids have done to relieve the stress of having a good time, and I think that about covers it. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.
Tink *~*~*
Tink *~*~*
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Ahnalira
Cast Member
Posts: 433
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 11-26-02 08:16 AM
Everything Tink said... and a {{{}}} and applause for living through it; >)
Ahnalira
Grace finds beauty everywhere. Grace is my best friend.
Meet The Our Laughing Place Travel Pixies
Everybody's got a Laughing Place... we'll help you find yours!
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samogram
Cast Member
Posts: 166
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 11-26-02 08:29 AM
quote:
Tink *~*~* wrote:
samogram, don't blame yourself.
It is inevitable with young'uns that young that there will be a meltdown, even in WDW. I remember hearing a distracted father sternly tell his melted-down son, "there will be no crying in the happiest place on earth". They need down time, because it is all too much stimulation. Even adults need down time from the parks (see my trip report and comments about the effect Universal had on me).
I've seen reports on RADP where people purposely build in a down day for every two they have been in the parks if they have young children. Even if you're just hangin' by the pool, doing the wash in the nearby laundry room, you're still in WDW and you're still having fun, but you're not subject to all those crowds and noise.
Oh, and room service is for down days! Just one room service, probably the breakfast meal, is all it takes to feel less harrassed. Another option is to send someone to Perkins off site. They are all over the place, and they do takeout for at least breakfast that I know of. Still another option - pizza delivery on your down day! I think I read on RADP that Domino's delivers on site.
The best thing about down days are the naps! You can have them by the pool, or you can have them in the quiet room, maybe with the lights out and just the tv on some cartoon channel, with the volume really low and the sleep timer set.
I've tried to think of all the things my friends with kids have done to relieve the stress of having a good time, and I think that about covers it. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.
Tink *~*~*
Thank you my friends, Tink and Ahnalira. This is wonderful advice. I especially like the room service idea This won't be our last trip with kids and I'll remember for that next time!
(edited by samogram for horrible spelling)
[Edited by samogram]
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons; for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
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Common
Ground / Goofy's HUGE!
/ Part 6--The Meltdown |
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