9/12 great article ! Who am I to say no to going to WDW?

[ladybugmom]

I'm all caught up!! WOW Laura! Your upgrade is wonderful! I've never heard of them upgrading to a totally different resort--what a surprise! That kid sign-in book is adorable!! Your girls look like they are having a ton of fun and your room looks super-nice!! Can't wait to read more!!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I think the slide was a hit! Such cute pictures of everyone!! Can't wait to hear about DTD.

The Contemporary rooms look so nice! Not generally my style but as others have said would love to try - especially if I'm not paying!

 

[jenjolt]

What a fun time had by all at the pool! The girls looked like they were having a blast!! YAY for Luke taking a nap poolside after enjoying the pool for the bit!!

Can't wait to hear about your DTD night!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Luke swam for a bit before taking a nap

Look at that sweet, sleeping baby, and those long, long eyelashes!!!

The girls look like they had a blast swimming and sliding!

 

[MeMom]

Luke swam for a bit before taking a nap

That pictures of the girls brought tears to my eyes. Look how happy they are! I love it!

What Luke is doing - that will be Bella. She is a good sleeper, thank heavens, so hopefully it won't be too much of a hassle for Jill and not too hard on Bella.

Looking forward to DTD pictures!

 

[moparop]

What a fun afternoon! That pool looks like great fun. You are certainly selling me on staying there in the near future!

You kids are so adorable. It looks like they lived it up at the pool!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Oh my goodness! I can't get over how much older Hannah looks compared to last years pictures. Wow!

So glad the pool was a hit! The slide looks fun.

 

[DreaGirl]

Now that looks like a fun pool. Your girls are so brave! I hope A. attempts the slides this year too!

Luke looks so sweet sleeping in his stroller. What a cutie!!

I would have had to think about moving for a one night stay. That would be a headache for sure.

 

[Happy Elf]

Looks like you had a great time at the pool! The slide looks like so much fun! Luke looks so cute taking a little rest.

 

[jillyb]

The pool looks like so much fun! I love the pictures of the girls with the water spraying up behind them...really neat the way it looks! Luke is just so precious sleeping in his stroller.

 

[mylag1rl]

Great pool pics. I love the one of Em going down the slide and the one of the girls on the steps looking back. Too cute

I like seeing all the Comtemporary pics I stayed there once as a little girl. We always visit the Comtemporary for Chef Mickey's and the gift shop but it is nice seeing the pool area.

 

[IluvXU]

Oh, how exciting!! I have fond memories of staying at the Contemporary on my very first trip to WDW when I was 6 or 7. I can definitely see how you would like it, with the monorail and all the extra space.

Loved it!

great pictures of the girls--they sure looked like the enjoyed themselves

My girls would love to swim all day long. The pool is very important to them, and a slide is a must.

I knew she would do it, what a brave little girl! The girls have grown so much since last year, Hannah looks so tall. Wow, that pool looks fabulous, I'm glad you had some time to spend there and enjoy it! It's a great nap inducer....

They even had guards scrubbing the tiles... super nice!

I love the updates...how great to get a free stay at Contemporary!!! The girls look like they had a wonderful time at the pool...I CAN'T wait for our trip! I look forward to reading more.

Trip reports are great for getting you excited!

Looks like a great time at the pool! Glad to see Luke napped too. Love the pics of the girls in front of the spraying water.

I didn't realize they were building a splash park! That is really great to hear. They had it under construction when we visited in January, but it was not evident what was going on. I'm really glad they are expanding the area-it seemed like a very simple pool for a Deluxe when compared to AKL or WL.

I'm really glad to read your positive review of the CR, it just makes me want to stay there even more!!!!

I wanted to see some drawings of the planned areas, but it was not that close to being done. It will make for a great area. The theming is nothing compared to others, but it is fun area!

I'm all caught up!! WOW Laura! Your upgrade is wonderful! I've never heard of them upgrading to a totally different resort--what a surprise! That kid sign-in book is adorable!! Your girls look like they are having a ton of fun and your room looks super-nice!! Can't wait to read more!!!

I was shocked to have them do it the day of, but I had kinda of forgotten about the redo area. We could see them working when we were on the buses at CSR.

I think the slide was a hit! Such cute pictures of everyone!! Can't wait to hear about DTD.

The Contemporary rooms look so nice! Not generally my style but as others have said would love to try - especially if I'm not paying!

I would stay there again, it is just so $$$$

What a fun time had by all at the pool! The girls looked like they were having a blast!! YAY for Luke taking a nap poolside after enjoying the pool for the bit!!

Can't wait to hear about your DTD night!

He was worn out, and after a few swim minutes he was rubbing his eyes, which means let me sleep. Just give the boy a bottle and bam!

Look at that sweet, sleeping baby, and those long, long eyelashes!!!

The girls look like they had a blast swimming and sliding!

He was just so good the whole trip. No one could say anything about "the poor little baby." He loves to see things and to be held, so WDW was great to him!

That pictures of the girls brought tears to my eyes. Look how happy they are! I love it!

What Luke is doing - that will be Bella. She is a good sleeper, thank heavens, so hopefully it won't be too much of a hassle for Jill and not too hard on Bella.

Looking forward to DTD pictures!

Seemingly since we got home he has been a fantastic sleeper... maybe he is still worn out!

What a fun afternoon! That pool looks like great fun. You are certainly selling me on staying there in the near future!

You kids are so adorable. It looks like they lived it up at the pool!

The next day was fun fun fun too! We love to swim.

Oh my goodness! I can't get over how much older Hannah looks compared to last years pictures. Wow!

So glad the pool was a hit! The slide looks fun.

She is a big girl, she could be in first grade this fall, but I have no regrets, I love having her home and cannot believe she is going to go to school everyday!

Now that looks like a fun pool. Your girls are so brave! I hope A. attempts the slides this year too!

Luke looks so sweet sleeping in his stroller. What a cutie!!

I would have had to think about moving for a one night stay. That would be a headache for sure.

Emily is brave because she does not believe she is the little sister... although we had a tearful moment later in the trip... she tried to be "tall"

Looks like you had a great time at the pool! The slide looks like so much fun! Luke looks so cute taking a little rest.

I want my nap poolside!

The pool looks like so much fun! I love the pictures of the girls with the water spraying up behind them...really neat the way it looks! Luke is just so precious sleeping in his stroller.

Em loved to swim under the sprayers like a tunnel....

Great pool pics. I love the one of Em going down the slide and the one of the girls on the steps looking back. Too cute

I like seeing all the Comtemporary pics I stayed there once as a little girl. We always visit the Comtemporary for Chef Mickey's and the gift shop but it is nice seeing the pool area.

We saw the pool via the boat from the WL in our hurry to go to Chef Mickeys. All the DIS research you do, and bam you are thrown into new territory!

 

[MegansMom]

Great pool pics....what a great way to start off your vacation!!! How relaxing!

 

[IluvXU]

Downtown Disney Time!!!

We showered and got dressed and ready to hit DTD.

This was hot... so the girls did not cooperate much, but I knew during the daytime it would be worse.

We walked through the Contemporary and wait only a few minutes for the DTD bus to pull up... I think we stopped by the Poly on the way!

By this point we were hungry, but of course the bus put one child to sleep- Emily. I guess that swimming did her in. So we carried Luke and put Emily in the stroller, which meant we were off to find food and a high chair for Luke.

To be honest I love to spend time at DTD. I prefer a morning or afternoon to the crazy evenings, but I did not see that fitting this trip. I looked at tonight as our possible only DTD time, so I needed to see what we wanted for sure and do the shopping!

We went to Earl of Sandwich for dinner. Honestly there was not much of a line. Hannah wanted grilled cheese and I agreed to split a salad and sandwich with DH. He was to order and I started to feed Luke.

The food was yummy as always, we got a ton and our bill was under twenty. A good deal if you are not on the dining plan! Unfortunately Emily slept and missed dinner, and Hannah ate every bite. We were going to get Emily something when she woke up

We headed through the TrenD, Team Mickey and then onto Basin. The sky was darkening quick... rain was coming so DH said make it quick! Hannah even spent some of her own money on this

This was the only thing she asked for all week. I consider myself lucky because my kids just don't ask to buy things. Em had a short list of things she wanted, but really it was stuff that Hannah had that she did not.

We got our purchases (I bought the Mickey head soap bar-- strawberry I believe) and we got to The World of Disney before the rain poured.

Just as we left Basin, Sleeping Emily woke up. There was no way to get her food now, it was just pouring, lightening and all. I knew we could get a snack at the WOD if we had to... but we kept it quiet.

We decided to do most of our shopping that night (Disney Visa discount, the tote bag deal, and a 40 dollar gift card if you spent 200). For a while we stayed together, but it got hard so eventually the girls and Luke parked it with DH in a corner, which was hard to find because once it poured the store became a madhouse!

You always have to try hats on....

after this Emily was hungry. I had really no food that she would eat with me (snacks were with Grandma, packed in the car) so we bought a set of the suckers to appease her for a bit. Actually she ate one of the set before we paid... but we had to do something...

Emily wanted a musical jewelry box and the Alladin figurine set, Hannah got a HS Musical hairthing. They decided on two autograph books with dad, the princess and Fairies book.

Luke made out, he got the Fab 5 figures (the oversized set) a pirate Mickey plate, bowl, cup and silverware!

We also got our 2009 ornament and album, a puzzle for this winter, a set of pirate Mickey and Friends cups (we got a set for our neighbors too) and a frame.

I got my much sought after red bag---and the tote.

Here is a picture of the stuff, plus just a few more items, we really were done shopping!

We still needed Ears for Luke and pins, but knew we had plenty of time!

We were "stuck" in there for over two hours, and finally made our way back to Earl of Sandwich as it drizzled to get Emily the same sandwich that Hannah had hours ago.

Afterwards we went to the Christmas store. I knew we had to order Luke's ornament to be personalized....
While I ordered the girls watched tv. Grr... I had to pick the ornament back up after Friday. They would not ship to the resort because we didn't know our room number. This to me is stupid. They don't take things to the room anymore anyway. Oh well. I figured at least my parents would make a trip down there, or I could always get back there.

By this point it was almost ten. I figured there was no light parade on the water, it was still raining or Wishes that night. The girls were done shopping, so we did miss some of the areas, which made me sad. However taking the three there was hard enough, so we headed back.

We walked back to the bus stop, waited less than a minute and were back to the Contemporary!

But we needed a treat for the night...

So after we enjoyed our Mickey bars and purchased our mugs, we headed back to the room. Hannah quickly fell asleep, then DH and Luke. Em struggled a bit since she took a late nap, so we watched some Disney shows and before long we were dreaming Disney dreams of the trip ahead!


ooops! I forgot until I looked. The girls had worn their swimsuits under their outfits. They thought they had a date with the fountains. Unfortunately there was a dj doing a kid dance party on the fountains when we arrived and then the rain! They were not even on that night, so no go!
Up next:

Luke and Mom explore and a Monorail ride to the Poly!

 

[punkin413]

love the pool pics! your kids are all so adorable. again, if you ever need a babysitter in georgia you know who to call!

 

[punkin413]

i love this picture!

looks like you guys had a great night at DTD despite the rain! great loot! i hope it's not too much of a pain to get luke's ornament later.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

The update was great! Every single picture of the kids is adorable. The pirate crew picture looked fun and I loved the picture of Luke with his crackers....

Wow, sounds like it really poured but that is a great excuse to get your shopping done and I can think of much worse places to get trapped by a rainstorm!

You got some great souvies and I'm glad Em got some dinner!

The Mickey bars were the perfect way to top off the evening, but I'm not seeing a picture of Luke eating his!?!

Sounds like a very fun evening was had by all!

Oh and I'm glad you and Hannah got your soap from Basin, I'm still kicking myself over that one.....

 

[Lady Lallie]

Sounds like a good trip to DTD. I think it's so much easier to get all of your shopping done in one trip like that!

The girls are so cute in the mickey ears at the contemporary!

 

[DreaGirl]

You two are brave taking 3 kids into WoD with a single stroller! I am impressed.

I love all your purchases. I insist on getting an ornament and an album each trip too. The puzzle is a great idea for those snowy winter days, I'm going to steal that idea from you (as well as many others I'm sure).

I love EoS and it is a must for us each trip. That stinks that they didn't get to play in the fountains. I remember your past pictures of them running around.

So lucky to be on the monorail. What a dream!!

 

[jenjolt]

What a great update and a great night at DTD...I always try to make one of my first stops the WOD store so I can pick things up and I have to tell you I love that cream tote bag, I wonder if it will still be there because I would love to get my hands on one of those for the school year.

I just adored your pictures in the store you have some really cute kids and it looked like they had fun and ending the night with Mouse Ears...always a great way!