Chapter 30 Gwen - The House Meets the Mouse （Part 1）
Ilove flying, and I mean that whole heartedly. Silently judging others who don’t have their shit together in the TSA line, people watching from your gate, the little snack mix and soft drink combo once you hit ten thousand feet in the air–there’s nothing like it.
Now, watching two people who you care about very, very much fumble through the process with wide eyes during the busiest season for the very first time? Priceless. Kind of wish I recorded Penelope and Miller during the whole thing.
Penelope kept her face glued to the window of the plane while Miller gripped the armrest as if his life depended on it the entire two and a half hour flight.
Now we’re riding Orlando International Airport’s Automated People Mover from our terminal to the main building to load up on a bus that will take us to our resort for the next three nights.
The sound of Mayor Buddy Dyer welcoming us home to The City Beautiful over the speakers feels like a warm hug.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve taken this exact route for this specific type of vacation, but never have I ever been so excited to introduce someone (someones, in this case) to the place that holds my most magical, happiest childhood memories.
I guide us down to baggage claim to retrieve our luggage and Penelope’s stroller that we checked before boarding the plane and walk us over to the area where the buses pick everyone up.
After giving the sweet cast member manning the kiosk my last name and the hotel we’re staying at, she directs us to the bus that will bring us to what I deem one of the most beautiful and classic resorts.
Miller has an obsession with 90s sitcoms, and everyone knows the real ones always went to Disney World for an episode or two. I’m really hoping he recognizes it.
Penelope again has her face plastered to the window of the bus, calling out every time we pass a billboard with a familiar character on it. When we reach the famous arch, signaling our arrival on property, I remember to record it to watch back for years to come.
Miller’s quiet, which is not unexpected.
He’s an observer who needs to take everything in.
But he also hasn’t let go of my hand once, and it’s getting harder and harder for him to hide his bright, curious eyes.
I think he’s trying to put on some act to be the responsible adult.
He doesn’t get that once you’re in a place like this, everyone’s a kid again. I’ll teach him.
The red roof and white siding of the iconic hotel come into view, and when Miller squeezes my hand and sucks in a breath, I know that all of the secret planning and scheming to make this happen was worth it.
“No fucking way are we staying here,” he whispers to me.
It takes everything in me to not scream confirmation that we indeed are. Instead I repeatedly nod my head with the biggest smile on my face. “Yeah, Miller baby.”
After retrieving our stuff and tipping the driver, we enter the lobby, and I head to the check-in desk while Miller and Penelope take everything in.
I remember seeing the giant bird cage elevators and the characters tiled into the floor for the first time.
The Christmas decor, life size gingerbread house included, adds to the magic.
I hear Miller gasp, “Uncle Jesse played that piano.”
We took the first flight out of Boston so it’s still fairly early, and our room isn’t ready yet.
We drop our bags with Bell Services, and I fasten First Visit buttons to Penelope’s and Miller’s shirts.
Miller pulls me in for a kiss, whispering thank yous and other sweet things, like how he can’t wait to bend me over the bathroom counter later. You know, sweet things.
It’s at this moment I realize Vacation Miller has been unlocked.
I’ve planned just about every minute of this trip because there’s a lot that goes into a successful theme park vacation, and because it’s busy as hell with the holiday crowds. But I’ve left a few things up for Penelope to decide.
First up, “Okay, kid. Monorail or boat?” I put my hands on my hips and wait for her to pick. Both are solid options, so she really can’t go wrong.
“Monorail, Monorail, Monorail!” she cheers, jumping up and down.
“Let’s go!” I lead them, Miller pushing the stroller while Penelope swings our hands together in between us, to the elevators. Once we pass through security, we pack ourselves like sardines into the overcrowded compartment.
Don’t forget to stand clear of those closing doors.
Once we’re through the line and have officially entered the park, I pause before we head into the short tunnel that will lead us to the Town Square.
“Alrighty, we’re here. We’re officially in. I know this is all foreign to you, but we’re tackling the park counter clockwise, starting in Tomorrowland, followed by Fantasyland, then we’ll break for lunch. Got it?”
Penelope nods her head vigorously, probably ready to agree to just about anything. Miller hoists P up, smiling. “You’re the captain today.”
Miller proudly parades through the park with the goofiest smile on his face in his Princess Protection Program T-shirt I packed, and I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who was more made to be a girl dad in my life.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT’S A BATHROOM?” Penelope stops dead in her tracks in the middle of a sea of people. Miller and I stumble to halt with her.
Penelope has a pair of purple floral ears with a sparkly tulle veil and butterfly fastened to the front on the top of her head and remnants of a mouse-shaped chocolate ice cream bar hanging on for dear life in the corners of her mouth.
The princess dress I made her for Halloween was the only outfit option when getting dressed today.
There’s also a betrayed, disgusted, furious scowl on that cute little face. It takes everything in me to not burst out in laughter.
“Oh shit.” Miller chuckles.
Penelope guffaws with her hands on the tops of her thighs. “This is the silliest thing I’ve ever seen!”
Today has been…today has altered my brain chemistry.
We’ve ridden rides and gotten themed snacks.
The shopping bag dangling from the stroller is the biggest one they had in the gift shop and is filled with merch we couldn’t say no to.
Miller surprised me, insisting we needed a balloon.
I think his phone is going to hit capacity on pictures and videos, too.
My favorite people in my favorite place.
I had a feeling the Tangled Toilets were going to throw P for a loop, so I have a reservation for us to meet our favorite lost princess in the castle to make up for it.
I could have told her. Maybe I should have.
But the look on her face was priceless, and it’ll be a funny story to relive when she’s older.
After finding all of the chameleons hidden in the area and inspecting all of the wanted posters of ruffians, Penelope hops back in the stroller, bubble wand waving in the wind, and we head in the direction of the castle.
Miller pulls my hand up to the stroller’s handlebar and covers it with his own as we push forward.
“She’s having the best day. Fuck it, I’m having the best day. I didn’t know it would be like this. I mean—I knew when we eventually got here, it’d be fun. But I couldn’t have pulled half this shit off. Seriously, I don’t know how you did it.”
“I can plan a vacation in my sleep, Miller baby. I’m just glad it’s living up to your expectations.”
“Exceeding them, Gwendolyn.” He leans over and pecks my cheek with a light kiss. “So, what’s next on the agenda?”
I already have the app pulled up on my phone that houses all of the park’s information. “The carousel only has a ten-minute wait, so I thought we could do that and then head into the castle to meet some princesses?”
“Love that plan. For the record, I would have said that about anything you suggested.”
“Even if I told you we were all signed up to get our faces painted?” I joke.
“Yep,” he says matter of factly. “Can they make me look like the racecar?”
“Don’t tempt me. I bet it could be arranged.”
We park the stroller in the designated area off to the side of the ride and hop in the short line. When we get to the cast member standing post at the front of the line, Penelope is ready with three fingers raised high in the air before he can even ask how many there are in our party.
“Three, please!” She’s my little expert, catching on to how things work around here so fast.
“Right this way, princess,” the man guides us to join the waiting queue of people for the next go-around. “Just remember to have Mommy or Daddy ride alongside you.”
Penelope whips her head around to me and Miller. “You hear that?” she mouths, hooking her thumb in the direction of the poor man who unknowingly just rocked our worlds, categorizing us as a perfect little family.
Miller silently takes my hand in his and we follow P up and onto the horse of her choice. We stand on each side of her as we spin around and around, laughing and singing.
After princess twirls and hugs that felt like they lasted a blink and forever simultaneously, we feast on a classic park day lunch of chicken tenders, french fries, and fountain soda.
Then we all agree we could use a break from the crowds. I check my email and texts to see our room still isn’t quite ready yet, so I opt to walk us over to a different resort to explore before hopping on a bus to the next park of the day.