Where are my fellow Disney nuts? You'll truly know the meaning of today's title ;) Mari

Additional ANs in part 2


Disney Tired

Main Street, USA

The family entered the Magic Kingdom and were heading towards the firehouse when a cast member approached Joseph and Catherine, who were bringing up the rear of the entourage.

"Excuse me, Sir?" the woman named Roxanne asked with a bright smile. "I noticed your USS Stennis hat, thank you for your service."

Joseph returned the smile. "Thank you."

"Are you spending the whole day with us in the Magic Kingdom?"

"Yes." He pointed. "That whole group that just went into the firehouse includes two eight year olds and a four year old who can't wait to see Tommorowland and hit the rest of the park again."

"That's wonderful," she said with a clap. "May I ask you a special favor?"

He glanced at Catherine, who tilted her head in question, and noticed Steve and DJ returning to where they stood near the flagpole.

"Everything okay?" Steve asked as they approached.

"Well, I was just about to ask … what's your name, sir?"

"Joseph."

"I was just about to ask Joseph if he'd honor us by being today's Veteran of the Day. Would you consider it? We choose randomly and we'd love to have you help us with the flag retreat. You'd have to be here at the flagpole at 4:30 today and we'd go through it with you. Basically they lower the flag and you help, then carry it as they retreat to the first turnoff of Main Street. It takes about fifteen minutes."

Catherine beamed proudly. "We can be back here by then, what do you think, Dad?"

"You should do it, Grandpa," DJ said with a smile. "It sounds awesome."

Joseph smiled. "I can't say no, then, can I?" He winked at DJ. "Thanks for asking, Roxanne. See you at 4:30."

"Thank you! See you then."


"Where are we going first, Uncle Steve?" Joan asked and took his hand after everyone met back up and started down Main Street.

"Tomorrowland," he confirmed, as Catherine explained, "We want to do Tomorrowland in the daytime and Adventureland and Frontierland tonight, because they're darker areas and less guests gravitate toward that part of the park in the evening. Tomorrowland is very lit up so it's more crowded at night."

"Wow." Mary shook her head. "I'm impressed. Never surprised, but always impressed."

She shrugged with a smile. "I scoped out the Disney Facebook groups."

"Of course you did." Danny shook his head from her side where he was carrying Angie on his shoulders. "Lead on, Cath."


Tomorrowland

"Well, honey, what do you think?" Catherine asked DJ as they neared the large white building that housed Space Mountain. The two were hanging back a bit from the rest of the group who would be riding the roller coaster. This would be the most intense ride they'd gone on yet and DJ had yet to make his decision on whether or not he wanted to do it.

When he didn't answer, Catherine stopped walking, guiding DJ out of the walking path, and knelt in front of him. "It's totally up to you, sweetheart," she said, taking his hands in hers. "It's a fun ride, but there are lots of other fun rides we can go on, too."

He took a breath, looking over at the building. None of the indoor roller coaster was visible and Catherine suspected that was making the decision harder for him.

Steve joined them, putting a hand on DJ's shoulder. "Still thinking?" he asked with a small smile.

DJ nodded. "Still thinking."

"That's okay, take your time, buddy."

A minute later, Joan approached holding Aaron's hand. "Hey, Primo DJ, are you coming on Space Mountain with us?" she asked hopefully.

"I'm not sure …" DJ said quietly.

"I used to not go on it at Disneyland even when I was tall enough," she told him. "Mama and Daddy said I could go when I was ready. And when I finally did, it was a little scary 'cause it's dark, but it's so fun, I promise. So if you decide to go, I think you'll like it."

Aaron smiled proudly at his daughter, then looked at DJ. "We hope you come, but we just wanted you to know that we totally understand if you're not ready."

Joan nodded.

"Mommy and Daddy will be there right with you," Catherine said. "But you do have to sit in a seat by yourself, remember?"

DJ looked between his parents. "Can I sit in between you at least?" he asked.

"Absolutely," Steve said immediately.

"When I went for the first time, Daddy sat behind me and kept his hand on my shoulder," Joan told him, demonstrating with Aaron's hand.

DJ looked up at Steve hopefully and his father smiled, squeezing his shoulder gently. "If that's what you want, that's exactly what I'll do."

DJ smiled gratefully. He looked at Joan who gave him an eager nod and Aaron who smiled encouragingly at him. He took a deep breath and turned back to his parents who waited patiently for his decision. "I want to do it," he said finally.

Joan squealed and jumped up and down as Catherine gave him a quick hug. "Then let's do it, my brave boy."

Steve squeezed his shoulder. "I'm proud of you, buddy."

DJ took both of their hands and with another deep breath, headed for the ride.

Utilizing their Fast Passes, they boarded. DJ immediately gripped the lap bar in his rocket but was grateful to feel Steve put a hand on his shoulder, just as he'd promised. Catherine sat in the seat in front of him and looked back with an encouraging smile.

"Still okay?" she asked, and he nodded.

"I'm okay."

The rockets left the loading station, made a 180 degree turn past the loading area, and stopped to wait for their turn to take off.

Both Steve and Catherine could feel the nervous energy radiating off DJ but he remained resolute.

Seconds later, they rolled down a drop into a strobe tunnel of pulsating blue lights while heading towards a blue orb.

"Wow," DJ said as he looked around. "That's cool."

At the far end of a tunnel, stars twinkled and they climbed to the top of the lift. A flash indicated their photo was taken.

"Here we go," Steve said as he squeezed DJ's shoulder. "Remember, I'm right here behind you."

During the lift astronauts floated upside-down and DJ and Joan pointed out the planets.

Seconds later hoots and screams of excitement filled the air as they dropped into the plunge and the coaster began its twisting descent.

Catherine listened carefully and relaxed once she identified DJ's screams as being those of excitement, not terror.

"What did you think?" Joan asked eagerly as they exited the ride.

"It was super fun," DJ replied with a beaming smile. "You were right. I liked it a lot." He looked at his parents who wore matching proud smiles. "I'm really glad I went."


After a turn on the Astro Orbiter, everyone rode Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.

"High score." Steve grinned and raised Angie's arm in victory. "We won, baby girl," he said of the laser target shooting ride.

"Yay, we won!" She turned to see Catherine and DJ who were walking behind them. "Me and Daddy won!"

"You did, good job." She smiled at her daughter, then shook her head at her husband. "Even with Angie on your lap?"

"We play to win," he said with a shrug, his mouth twitching in a smile.

"Of course you do," Danny said as he stepped up from where he'd been in the souvenir shop with Elizabeth and Gabby. He lifted his goddaughter. "Outshoot him for me in about fifteen years, please?"

Not getting it but happy to agree, she nodded happily, saying, "Okay!" while DJ and Joan giggled.

"Where are we going now?" Joan asked, taking Mary's hand.

"Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor." Her mother pointed to the building that housed the theater.

"Cool!" DJ pumped a fist. "This is gonna be fun!"

Once inside the theater, guests were invited to use their phones to text their first name and hometown with jokes that could be used during the show.

"You should do it!" Joan said to DJ, knowing how he loved jokes and puns.

"I got some good ones!" DJ nodded excitedly. "Mommy, can I please use your phone?"

"Here you go." Catherine took it out and handed it over.

"I can send two…" He thought and smiled, chuckling as he tapped them out and hit send. "Okay!" He passed the phone back just as it was time to enter the seating area for the show.

As the guests sat down, camera operators searched the crowd and stopped on Danny with the caption will treat everyone to Dole Whips after the show, causing the kids to laugh uproariously.

Other guests were captioned with has no idea where she is and really wants a Mickey ice cream bar.

As Mike, Roz and other characters captured laughs from the audience to power the Monster World, the family cheered, clapped, waved their hands and participated accordingly.

When the camera swung to Steve, and Mike said, "I know how I'm going to dress up for Halloween ... I'm going as someone super tough … like 'that guy,' " Joan squealed and clapped, saying, "It's you, Uncle Steve!"

At the closing part of the show when jokes were told, the last one was told by a two-headed monster Sam and Ella. When one head asked, "What do you call cheese that's not yours?" DJ clasped his hands over his mouth and bounced in his seat.

"Nach-o cheese!" the second head answered to the roar of children's laughter.

"That last joke was from DJ from Honolulu, Hawaii. Where are you, DJ?"

"Stand up, sweetheart," Catherine told him while smiling at his delight.

When the camera swung to him he waved, then quickly sat.

"Thanks, DJ! And thank you all for joining us at the Laugh Factory! Enjoy the rest of your day in the Magic Kingdom."

As they exited and everyone high fived and fist bumped him, the excited eight year old said, "That was so cool! Wait 'til I tell Jacob, he told me that one."

"You can tell him when we call later," Steve said with a grin for Catherine. Jacob had told them all that joke at DJ's age.

"Awesome! Me and Michael love that joke. Wait 'til I tell him it got used in the show!"


After taking turns on the Tomorrowland Speedway, PeopleMover and visiting Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress, the whole gang made their way over the bridge back to Main Steet to be at the flagpole in time for the ceremony, all singing, "It's a great big beautiful tomorrow…"


Flagpole 4:30

"...and we lower the flag and the colorguard, our park security, will fold and hand it to you. The Dapper Dans will be singing, the Magic Kingdom Philharmonic will play and your family can watch from right here. Then you'll be part of the procession as it marches down Main Street and you guys," he addressed the family, "follow him and are part of the parade. We take all the photos and you'll get a certificate," the cast member named Donnie explained.

"That's so cool, Grandpa!" DJ said as Joan pressed her hands together in excitement and agreed, "It is!"

Angie was in Elizabeth's arms as she said, "What's Grandpa doin'?"

"Grandpa's being honored because he's a veteran and was in the Navy, like your mommy and daddy," she explained as she placed her on her feet.

"Thank you for your service." Donnie nodded to Steve and Catheirne, who acknowledged him with thanks. "And y'all come listen to this." He bent to the childrens' level. "Do you know the Pledge of Allegiance?"

"Yes!" DJ and Joan raised their hands, making everyone smile, and Angie chimed in with a "Yes!" of her own.

"Excellent!" He held up his hand and high-fived them. "You three are going to stand right in front of Joseph and say the pledge for everyone."

"Wow, really?" DJ asked while Joan squealed in delight.

"Really, and you're going to do great."


Town Square Flagpole 5:00

Joseph stood front and center, flanked by the color guard, and the children were positioned behind him facing the flag.

"And now we have three very special guests joining us today. We have Joan, from California and DJ and Angie, from Hawaii. Let's give them all a big round of applause for helping us out today. And now, let's join them as they lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance."

Elizabeth squeezed Catherine and Mary's hands before placing her own over her heart as the children stood up tall and recited the pledge.

A bugler began Taps and the flag was lowered and folded as The Main Street Philharmonic played the National Anthem. The folded flag was ceremoniously placed in Joseph's hands as the announcer said, "And now ladies and gentlemen, we are very proud to have with us a very special guest Veteran of the Day. Please join us in welcoming today's guest veteran, United States Navy Captain, Retired, Joseph Rollins, all the way from Honolulu, Hawaii!"

The family broke out in cheers when the band began to play the Navy Anthem and Joseph, accompanied by the colorguard, began the walk down Main Street. The children were instructed to walk directly behind him and the rest of the family followed the band.

Waving to the guests that lined Main Street, Joan was giddy with delight, DJ beamed proudly and Angie called out, "Dat's Grandpa!" to the crowd as all three waved to the onlookers.

When they reached the turnoff, the Disney photographer took photos of Joseph holding the flag, notice and certificate that were placed in his hands, and then asked Elizabeth to join him.

"Just like old times," she said and kissed his cheek, thinking of the many ceremonies and photo ops they'd shared during his career.

"Okay, let's have Joseph's immediate family come up, please." He directed Steve and Catherine on his other side, with DJ in front of his grandparents and Angie in her father's arms.

"Rest of the family, please," had the whole group in the next photo.

When they were finished, Joseph and the children were given pins and thank yous before the cast members left them to go about enjoying the rest of their day.

Joseph took Angie who was reaching for him and settled her on his hip. Turning to Elizabeth and Catherine, he said, "Like old times but even better," with a smile as his daughter beamed proudly and leaned up to kiss his cheek.


After dinner at Tortuga Tavern where everyone enjoyed the 'top your own taco' bar, the family headed for more rides in Adventureland.

"Let's go high, Mommy!" Angie said as she settled into her seat on Aladdin's flying carpet. "Higher dan Daddy and DJ."

Joan, who was on the carpet directly in front of them with Aaron called over her shoulder, "Let's have a race."

Having ridden the Dumbo ride multiple times the four year old was now very familiar with the stick control that made the carpet go up and down.

She squealed with delight as the ride started and she immediately pulled the lever to take the carpet as high as possible.

"We flyin'!" she squealed excitedly.

"This is kinda like riding in the helicopter," DJ observed as he too made his carpet soar as high as possible.

"A little bit," Steve agreed.

Joan waved excitedly to family members waiting below and DJ and Angie quickly followed suit.

"I'm kinda starting to like heights," DJ said as they finished the ride and joined the rest of the family. "Someday I might even want to try skydiving with you and Mommy."

Danny dropped his chin to his chest and sighed. "I figured it was only a matter of time."


"That's a lot of stairs," Mary said as she looked up at the giant structure that was the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.

"We like this one, Mama," Joan said. "Remember, it shows you all the scenes of what life was like for the family after the shipwreck."

Mary smiled. "I remember. But I think I might sit this one out. I need a little rest."

"Are you going?" Aaron asked Steve. "Because to be honest I could use a short break, too. I need some water. But I know Joan really wants to go so if you guys don't I'll go with her."

"Go ahead and rest a little," Steve said. "There's lots more to do today." He looked at Catherine. "We got this."

As they prepared to enter the treehouse Steve looked at Danny. "You coming? "

Danny shook his head adamantly. "I follow you up enough stairs in hundred degree weather in the real world. On vacation I'm going right over there for a Watermelon Dole Whip with the rest of the sane people."


Liberty Square

"I have to admit I'm looking forward to a chance to sit down for a bit inside with air conditioning," Sue admitted as they entered the Hall of Presidents.

The family made their way to the front of the auditorium and took their seats. Angie started on Steve's lap, then decided she wanted to sit on Catherine's, finally settling as the show began.

While watching the historical video, Elizabeth quietly pointed things out to DJ and Joan who she was seated between. Angie took the scene in, not overly interested until the curtain revealed the animatronic replicas of the presidents.

"That's Abe Lincoln," Joan whispered. "He was a super good president and really tall. His wife was named Mary, like Mama."

"We learned about him and how he was called Honest Abe and told the truth." DJ added when the Lincoln replica finished his speech and introduced the rest to the presidential figures. "There's President Obama, he's from Hawaii," he pointed out. "Daddy and Uncle Danny, Uncle Chin and Aunt Kono met him."

"See that president, there?" Joseph whispered from the other side of DJ, "He was president when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Do you remember his name?"

"Yes, Grandpa, it's President Roosevelt." DJ turned to his cousin. "Remember, Joan, we saw his picture at Pearl when we went to visit Great Grandpa Steven's name?"

Blond pigtails bobbed. "I remember."

"Two smart cookies we have here." Sue smiled and the kids beamed.

"Dey all live in here?" Angie asked when the group stood and Steve lifted her to walk to the exit.

"They're kept in here, baby girl, they aren't real people. They're … robots that look real."

She frowned a second, considering, then nodded. "Like Botty?"

DJ grinned proudly and Steve smiled at him as he said, "A billion times more like people, but yeah, they kinda work like Botty."


"Goooooood evvvvvvenig," a cast member named Alberto greeted them as they entered the queue for the Haunted Mansion.

"It's still kinda light out!" Joan giggled and took Mary's hand.

"It's always evening here," he answered, keeping the straight face that went with his character. "Right this way," Alberto motioned them to move ahead.

When Catherine passed carrying Angie he whispered, "If she changes her mind, signal a cast member, there's an out door before the ride boards."

"Thank you." She smiled as she stepped forward with Steve's hand on her back, nodding when he said, "She's not afraid of much, but thanks."

"Okay, who's sitting with who?" Steve asked as they stepped through the interactive graveyard that was part of the queue area.

"Can I ride with you and Mommy, Daddy?" DJ asked while Angie nodded. "I sit wif DJ."

"You can both ride with us," Catherine said as the rest of the family divided up in twos and threes before stepping into the room at the beginning of the ride.

"… notice this room has no windows and no doors…" the voiceover entoned, before the lights went out to a clash of thunder, making many of the guests in the large room scream or startle.

When a door opened to reveal a conveyor belt loading system that led to 'doom buggies' on a track, Joan said, "It's not super duper scary, but I always hold Mama's hand."

"I'll hold your hand, okay, Mommy?" DJ said as the family of four climbed into a buggy and the safety bar came down.

With a smile at Steve, Catherine nodded. "I'm counting on it," she said and kissed his head as Angie settled between DJ and Steve.

As the ride entered the seance room, a woman's face in a crystal ball opened its eyes and began,

"Serpents and spiders,

tail of a rat...

Call in the spirits,

wherever they're at.

Rap on a table,

it's time to respond...

Send us a message

from somewhere beyond…"

DJ squeezed Catherine's hand but his expression was excited and intrigued as opposed to scared.

Meanwhile, Angie pointed to the floating musical instruments and said, "Look, dey's flying!"

As the ride progressed they saw a spooky bride, a birthday party with spectral dancers, a quartet of ghosts popping up from behind tombstones to sing, and even rode backwards down a staircase.

At the conclusion of the ride the voice of the "ghost host" returned and as they passed a mirror, said, "Ah, there you are... and just in time. There's a little matter I forgot to mention: beware of Hitchhiking Ghosts! They have selected you to fill our quota, and will haunt you until you return... Now I will raise the safety bar, and a ghost will follow you home!"

With that, a translucent ghost image joined each doom buggy, and the kids pointed and squealed as a flash captured a photo of each group.

Gauging Angie's reaction as they exited the car, Steve and Catherine burst into laughter. Pointing at the photos displayed on a screen for purchase or addition to the Memory Maker, she shook her head.

"Silly ghosts, dey gotta stay here at dey house."

The cast member working the exit nodded towards her and said to Danny, "Someone isn't afraid at all."

Barking a laugh, he gestured towards his best friend. "That apple didn't fall far, believe me."


After a ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad where Joseph and Ramon sat in the very front car, much to the kids' delight, the whole crew met up at the Country Bear Jamboree to watch the animatronic bears sing and tell jokes.

Everyone got a kick out of the pre-show question and answer sessions conducted by the cast members, especially when Joan raised her hand and correctly answered with Donald Duck's middle name, Fauntleroy. Angie found the large bear named Big Al, who warbled a song called Blood on the Saddle hysterically funny and her laughter was contagious.

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café was the choice for a quick snack and while Danny and Steve moved several tables together, the rest of the adults went up to order food with the kids.

"We're going on Splash Mountain, next, right, Uncle Steve?" Joan asked as she joined them and took a seat next at his side. She placed her tray of churros on the table and took a sip of her drink.

"I'm big enough for dat one?" Angie asked from her perch on Elizabeth's lap.

"Yes, you're tall enough, sweetheart." She tapped the plate of powdered cinnamon sugar doughnut holes. "Let's take a bite, please, so we can see more fun things."

"Okay." Angie picked one up and grinned at the occupants of the neighboring table. "Da doughnuts are so yummy. You got dem, too!"

Two teenage girls at the next table smiled. "They're super yummy. Make sure you eat yours all up, cutie," the first girl said, while the second, who was clearly her sister as they looked very much alike, leaned towards Elizabeth and noted, "Splash Mountain starts outside but there's a dark part and the drop is like fifty feet," she supplied helpfully. "Our little brother is kinda scared of it."

"Thank you," Elizabeth replied and returned their smiles as DJ said, "My sister's not afraid of too many things."

"That's putting it mildly," Danny said with a laugh. "She won't be happy about any ride she's not tall enough to go on."

"We'll be busy shopping for fun things so we won't even notice," Elizabeth said with a wink and a kiss to the little girl's head. "Just like with Space Mountain, huh?"

"You guys have it all covered," the teen said with a grin. "We live in Winter Park so we're here all the time. Our older brother's a cast member at the Jungle Cruise. If you get Corey as your captain on any of your rides, tell him you met Ronni and Aliyah."

"We definitely will." Catherine told the girls as they stood and gathered the recycling and trash from their table. "Thanks for the tip. Have a fun day."

"You, too," they chorused and left with a wave.


"Okay, who's going on?" Steve asked at the entrance of Splash Mountain.

"I'm out." Mary raised her hand.

"Mama doesn't like to get wet and walk around soggy, but me and Daddy don't care, right?" Joan looked at her parents.

"You got that right, peanut. Go, I'll be in the store by the exit." Mary kissed her daughter's cheek. "Give me your hat so it doesn't fly off."

"I'll go with Mary," Gabby said, "I don't want to slosh around in wet sneakers afterwards, either."

"Will you hold my hat, Aunt Gabby?" DJ held it out.

"You got it. Any other shoppers?"

"Me," Elizabeth said and Catherine chuckled, "No surprise there. We'll meet you in the store."

They had enough people for a whole flume, so with everyone loaded up, they entered the ride.


"Hi!" Angie waved to all the characters along the way as the log floated past the singing figures.

"They're gonna change this to a Princess Tiana ride, right Daddy?" Joan said from the row in front of Steve and DJ.

"That's what I heard," Aaron confirmed.

"Ohh, I like Tiana," Angie beamed.

"She's a working class princess, one of my favorites," Sue agreed and Ramon grinned.

"Here we go," Catherine wrapped an arm around Angie's waist as they took the first drop.

"Wheeeeeee!" the four year old called out and giggled when water splashed them. "I got wet!"

"You're gonna get more wet," her mother said as they approached the big drop.

Angie raised her arms in imitation of Joan before the drop while Danny laughed and poked his partner from behind. "Your no fear gene is in action right there, my friend."

She had an expression of exhilaration and pure joy as they plunged fifty feet and a wave washed over the flume.

"Yay! It was fun! Was dat fun, DJ? You have fun, Joanie?"

"That was so cool!" DJ smiled and wiped his face on his arm. "Good thing Aunt Mary said about the hats."

"Learned from experience," Aaron said as he helped Joan out of the log. "We had to replace Joan and Avery's hats the first time we took them on." He looked around. "Everybody good? Let's go meet up with the shoppers and see what they found."

Before they knew it was almost 9:00 so the group staked out a spot to watch the fireworks. Within minutes of them finishing Angie was sound asleep on Catherine's shoulder. Joan was riding on Aaron's shoulders, her eyelids drooping, and Steve was carrying DJ, who was seconds from nodding off, piggyback.

"Who's gonna carry me?" Mary asked.

"Sorry." Aaron chuckled. "You're on your own."

"In the Facebook groups I told you about they have a saying," Catherine said. "Ain't no tired like Disney tired."

# End Thanks for reading - join us tomorrow as the Disney Marathon continues


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