The Good, the Bad, and the "you've got to be kidding me!" Trip Report

[ClaraBug]

Hello and welcome to my trip report for our 2009 Disney Vacation!

I do have a pre-trip report, the link is at the bottom of my signature....


But if not, I will do a brief introduction:

DH - love of my life! We have been married for almost eleven years!

Me - Disney lover extrordinaire

DD8 - my straight A student, who wears her heart on her sleeve for all to see.

DD5 - my precocious one, who asks all the questions, all the time

DD5

DH & DD8

 

[ClaraBug]

Our trip was March 29 - April 3, 2009 and our resort was the Pop Century. This was our second stay at the Pop. The first time we stayed, we were not too thrilled because it was sooooooooooo crowded.

We also had a "preferred" room. It was noisy.

We wanted to give the Pop a second try...we really liked all the icons and the themes. Plus, the rooms were always cleans and sufficient for our needs.

I got smart this time and asked for a room away from the pools and the busy areas...we got a great room over in the "90's" building that faced away from everything except a tree-ed area. Nice and quiet! It ended up being a fabulous stay at the Pop!!

Our budget did not allow for park hopper, so I made sure that we took advantage of magic hours! DH and I were talking on the flight home that this trip was less hectic b/c we did not park hop....please note that this is our personal opinion.

 

[ClaraBug]

Saturday Morning, dawned......gray, cloudy, and rainy.

DH had to leave for work and I had a soccer meeting, as I was suckered into being a coach...dont ask

I dropped the girls of at the grandparents house and went on my merry way....

After my meeting, I ran home and packed up the van, changed my clothes, swung by the grandparents house. Changed the girls clothes, as they were still in their jammies.......we then headed up the road to meet daddy at work.

We arrived in Hagerstown, MD with time to spare....so we headed to my Grammy's house because DH was leaving his truck there instead of driving it home. We visited for about an hour and then hit I-70 to Baltimore....in pouring rain!

We checked into the hotel and waited for my friend from high school and her family to arrive. I got a call about 15 mins. after we arrived.

Side Story!
By shear luck, I found out that my HS friend was going to Disney the same exact time that we were...flying out of the same airport...even staying at the same hotel...How Great was that!

So, we were going to go to dinner and our family could meet in a quiet environment. So we headed to Ruby Tuesday for dinner

After dinner, back to the hotel and an hour of swimming in the indoor pool. My HS friend and her family joined us too.

Please note: My daughters had no idea that we were going to Disney...we didnt tell them until we were dressed and ready to head to the shuttle to take us to the airport!

After swimming, I gave the girls a quick bath and then into bed. We had to get up at 3am to catch a 6am flight. DH and I followed shortly behind them.

 

[noahdove]

Anxious to hear your full report. I will staying at the PoP in August with my little niece

 

[ClaraBug]

The alarm clock went off at 3am on Sunday Morning! I got out of bed and jumped in the shower. DH got up and dressed! The girls woke up with us and got dressed, as I set out their outfits that night before.

We were all packed back up and ready to, and we told the girls..."We are going to Disney! Today, right now...we are going to the airport to fly to Disney, right now!"

Hmm, not the excitement I expected from them....I am not sure if they were tired or in disbelief but I didnt get the response I was hoping for...

Oh, well....we were still on our way to Disney. At 4:20am eek we were in the lobby of the hotel to catch the shuttle to BWI. The driver loaded us up and away we went.

He dropped us off at the Southwest drop-off and unloaded our luggage. I had already check-in online, we just needed to check our luggage. The great thing about a 6am flight, no lines at security! We breezed right through security and our gate was just on the other side. The girls and I found a seat and DH went to find a cup of coffee. About 40 mins before take-off, I made sure the girls and myself went to the bathroom.

It was time to board, the girls and myself sat in one row and DH sat across from us...he ended up with the whole row to himself. DD8 moved over to sit with him half way through the flight.

Unfortunately, due to the rainy weather in Baltimore and Orlando...there was some turbulence!

I was so happy when we finally landed!!

 

[ClaraBug]

Anxious to hear your full report. I will staying at the PoP in August with my little niece

YAY, my first TR reader!!

 

[debraW76]

Oh Snap!! I was hoping to be first!
Oh well. At least i made first page!!

 

[DisneymoonJess07]

Looking forward to hearing all about it! You've got a great start!

 

[shannon47142]

great start!! Waiting for more

 

[MushuGirl06]

We arrived in Hagerstown, MD with time to spare

this is very random but you live in Hagerstown, MD thats so sweet; the mid atlantic team from the little world series came from that town in 2008!

anyways i am loving your TR and cant wait for more updates!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[lillylynnb]

Waiting for more

 

[MissNurse]

Sounds like so much fun! Can't wait for more report!

 

[bettyann29]

Love your TR! I came across your PTR today and was hoping to find you on the TR board..

Ive been to Pop 3 times so far and have liked it pretty well.. Im headed back there in a few weeks for my first solo.. Its been awhile since I have been at Pop so Im interested to hear how its doing..

Thats funny about your DD's and the less than thrilled reaction to your surprise ... Last year me and DH surprised my DD with a trip to WDW and told her that we were going to my friends house- one I went to high school with and that I hadnt seen her in some time, etc.. We got all the way to the Magical Express bus desk before we sprung it on her.. Yep, we were at the Orlando airport before she knew and she got mad at us when we told her what we had done.. she was mad because she said we made her lie to her teacher and friends she soon got over it though..

 

[ClaraBug]

I wanted to wait to tell this part of the story until later but.....

When I got out of the shower that morning, DH sticks his head in the bathroom and said that he thinks DD5 is running a fever!

OH, Sugar Honey Iced Tea!!!

I quickly wrap up in a towel and grab the thermometer out of the goody bag....sure enough 102.7

Here it comes:

You have got to be kidding me!!

Why the heck does this poor child have a high fever the morning we are leaving for Disney!!! So I load her up on Children's Motrin and pray for the best!

 

[ClaraBug]

Oh Snap!! I was hoping to be first!
Oh well. At least i made first page!!

I still love ya!!

Looking forward to hearing all about it! You've got a great start!

Thanks, Jess!!

great start!! Waiting for more

Its coming!!

this is very random but you live in Hagerstown, MD thats so sweet; the mid atlantic team from the little world series came from that town in 2008!

anyways i am loving your TR and cant wait for more updates!

Yep, I remember...It was a BIG deal!

Can't wait to hear more!

Thanks!!

Waiting for more

Sounds like so much fun! Can't wait for more report!

Thanks!!

Love your TR! I came across your PTR today and was hoping to find you on the TR board..

Ive been to Pop 3 times so far and have liked it pretty well.. Im headed back there in a few weeks for my first solo.. Its been awhile since I have been at Pop so Im interested to hear how its doing..

Thats funny about your DD's and the less than thrilled reaction to your surprise ... Last year me and DH surprised my DD with a trip to WDW and told her that we were going to my friends house- one I went to high school with and that I hadnt seen her in some time, etc.. We got all the way to the Magical Express bus desk before we sprung it on her.. Yep, we were at the Orlando airport before she knew and she got mad at us when we told her what we had done.. she was mad because she said we made her lie to her teacher and friends she soon got over it though..

We were not happy about it after our first stay....but the second stay at the Pop was wonderful!!

 

[ClaraBug]

After landing in Orlando....we high-tail it to the Magical Express and we are loaded onto a ME bus right away! How great was that!!!

DD5 temp had gone down but she was still warm...you could tell by her glassy eyes that the fever was still there!

We arrive at the Pop and I get in line to check-in....Its not even 9:30 am and our room is ready!! We get our Keys to the Kingdom and head directly to our room! We are in the '90's this time, face away from the pool. It was great!! We unload our bags and just take the bare necessities. We head to Everything Pop for some breakfast.

We are on the dining plan, so breakfast this morning was our snack credits. I got the Chocolate crossant and it was so very yummy!!! DH got a Banana nut muffin and the girls got a bagel and a cheesecake.....hey, we in Disney...if she wants a cheesecake for breakfast...she can have a cheesecake for breakfast!! We also bought two of the re-fillable mugs. Its a tradition....besides...DH is a coffee ***** and the mugs pay for themselves with the amount of coffee he drinks!

We meander around the gift shop and then head to the Magic Kingdom bus. It was evening Extra Magic Hours at MK that night and we were going to take full advantage of them.

We get on the MK and it starts to rain, not hard but enough....it had been misting all morning since we arrive but it was not a bother. By the time we arrive at MK.....it is pouring! and for those who have stayed at the Pop, you know the bus stop for the MK is the very last stop! We ran to the awning that covers the walkway to the boat that take you to the wilderness resort and stood there for about 10-15 mins. I have DD5 wrapped up in my rain jacket, scared that getting wet would worsen her fever! So needless to say, I was soak to the bone!! but I was in Disney!!

 

[SunnieRN]

What is it with kids getting sick right at vacation time?? My daughter and grandsons leave in a few hours and my grandson is sick also. Hope she got better quickly!!
Looking forward to more!!

 

[ClaraBug]

I need to upload some more pix!

 

[Miss Ang]

Can't wait to hear more. I sure do hope your dd was feeling better quickly!