Three Generations going to the World!

[tarak]

This trip came about very suddenly. I tend to be a planner (see my other tickers – I’m planning a trip when I don’t even know what the prices will be). For a while now, I had a plan to take my mom and my daughters to Ireland next summer on an ABD trip. My family is Irish and my mom has been to Ireland, but not for at least a decade and I knew she wanted to go back. The ABD trip looked like just the thing.
I started to scrimp and save, knowing that with that trip and the big Disney trip next December I wouldn’t have much in the way of discretionary money. Well, reality finally set in that maybe spending the equivalent of a year’s college tuition on a trip the girls likely wouldn’t remember might not be the most responsible thing to do.

 

[tarak]

So on Saturday night, I’m perusing the WDW site and looking at the specials and realize I have enough saved at this point to pay for a week long trip to WDW with my mom and daughters. I talk to DH who says “I’m glad you saw the light.” Not sure why he didn’t mention this light earlier, but okay. He has no problem with my going to the World as long as he doesn’t have to go until next year. He likes it, but doesn’t feel the need to go every year.
Over the weekend, we take the kids (fondly known as Heckle, Jeckle and the Dude) to Hershey Park (we have season passes) and at one point Jeckle throws a penny into a fountain and says “I wish we could go to Disney World.” So at this point I’m thinking that if Hershey Park isn’t enough of a distraction from the World, Kenmare Bay won’t cut it either.
Call mom. Turns out she thought I was a bit nuts for wanting to take a 6 year old and a 7 year old to a foreign country. I wonder at what point everyone was going to share this opinion with me. Mom has never been to Epcot or WDW. I don’t think she’s ever been to Florida, to be honest. So a trip to F&W fest is born.

 

[tarak]

Okay – here are the players.

Me – 39 by the time we travel. I’m an attorney and work for the state - lately I've been writing contracts. DH and I have been married for almost 10 years (next year's trip is in part an anniversary celebration). Not one person told me my hair was sticking up.

Mom – 71 this year. My mom is very eccentric, but would do anything for me and loves my kids to distraction. She hasn’t been on a vacation, other than an odd weekend here or there, in at least ten years (I think the last trip was when she went to Ireland at least a decade ago). She would never spend this kind of money on herself and I’m very grateful that I’m in a position to do it instead. She is very independent. When in Dublin, she went on some Literary Pub Crawl. I didn’t ask for details because the idea of my mom drinking and following the footsteps of James Joyce was a bit unsettling. I mentioned to her that we’ll be there at the same time as the Not So Scary Halloween Party and she said “ooh! I love Halloween!” Not sure if she’ll dress up, though. She's obviously the one on the right - this is an old picture, but other than being completely grey, she hasn't changed much. Which bodes well for me.

Heckle – DD6. The product of two lawyers. She has a memory like a steel trap. She is affectionate and bossy, loves the color pink and anything with skulls on it. A few years ago, we were driving somewhere and she yelled from the back seat, “play Run to the Hills, daddy!” Um – did my 4 year old just request an Iron Maiden song and know the words to the chorus? Why yes, she did. She loves High School Musical and Wipe Out. She, like the rest of the family, is a huge fan of Ninja Warrior. She thinks that Yamada needs to stop before he permanently damages himself.

Jeckle – DD4. She's the one on the right. She is extremely strong willed. She is a monster when she is hungry. She is a clone of her father. She is also a sweet child who gives the best hugs ever and is always willing to comfort someone who is upset. She has a wonderful imagination and tells all sorts of crazy stories. And yes – that is a hat with a Cthulhu on it. It is her favorite hat. She wore it to pre-school for “hat day” and one poor girl ran to the other side of the room crying because it scared her.

DH is staying home with the Dude (DS1), but they’ll make appearances in my other pre-trip report.

 

[tarak]

When I was a kid, I loved the Tiki Room. Yes, it was cheesy and silly. But I knew the songs by heart, and my dad always laughed at the lame jokes (he died almost 17 years ago and whenever I'm at the World, I think of the rides he loved most and want to go on them).
The Tiki Room's new management should be fired. We managed to avoid the Tiki Room the last time we went to the world. The first time, the girls were only 2 1/2 and 4 - I was hoping they wouldn't remember it at all. I had recorded a travel show (Samantha Brown?). And for a few horrible seconds, the outside of the Tiki room was revealed in all its Iago and Zazu infested glory. The girls immediately tell me how much they love the Tiki Room and have to go on it.
DH - knowing that it's just me and the girls with my mom this trip says, "I guarantee you will get to go to the Tiki Room the next time you go to Walt Disney World." Then laughs like a mad man. The girls are confused but happy.
I could beat him with a stuffed bird.

 

[Flossbolna]

I jumped over from my own PTR to check yours out and discovered that besides being very similar in age, we actually are both lawyers who work for the government!

I like the idea of your trip with your mother a lot and she looks like a really lovely lady. I am looking forward to read more about your trip! Now I have to check out that other PTR!

 

[tarak]

Hi, Flossbolna! My sister and I took a weekend trip just the two of us years ago (in 2001). The next big vacation we take will be very different because we're both married and have kids (and step-kids), but I'm hoping she and I can sneak off and do something just the two of us.

So I haven't updated this in a while. Working for the state has it's hazards when budget time comes around. We were working without pay for about 5 weeks and while I knew I would eventually get paid, it made it hard to think about taking a vacation when the money for that was being spent on things like the electric bill. But I've been paid and should be gainfully employed, so the trip is definitely on. I have to pay the balance in a week, so there's no turning back now!

So mom is definitely dressing up. And I'll be bringing costumes for the girls. So I'll be dressing up. I have no costume. But I'm thinking a pirate costume should be easy to come by. And our local renaissance faire starts tomorrow, so it seems like the perfect opportunity to shop in advance (getting that 5 weeks of back pay in one shot didn't hurt, either)!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey Tarak,

I've followed your link over from Flossbolna's pretrip...

(and I think I've seen your name on the AKL boards too...)

I live in PA also but right outside Philadelphia...

You had me rolling when you were speaking about your concern of your mother drinking and following the footsteps of James Joyce during a Dublin Pub Crawl...I would be unsettled imagining either of my parents doing that also...in fact I'd have a concern of doing that myself despite my respect for Joyce's literary merits...

(I can understand your ABD dilemma-I have also drooled over that gorgeous glossy brochure many a time...they sound like really well done trips...but they are very expensive...)...

Your children sound delightful and I think your mother sounds awesome-I think you will have a fabulous time together...

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I'm in! I love that it's a ladies trip and three generations

 

[tarak]

Your children sound delightful and I think your mother sounds awesome-I think you will have a fabulous time together...

Hi, PracPerfPatricia - I think my kids are delightful as well, but I admit to being a tad biased.
And my mom is awesome. She makes me pumpkin pie every year for my birthday. I came home yesterday to not one, but two pumpkin pies in the fridge.

 

[tarak]

I'm in! I love that it's a ladies trip and three generations

Welcome! I think what I'm looking forward to the most is showing my mom the things she's never seen - sort of the reverse of going with my kids the first time.

 

[tarak]

So I’ve been perusing the proposed schedule for our September trip, and I really don’t have much. Which is odd considering how much time and attention I’ve put into planning this trip. How does that work? I’m starting to see some frightening similarities between our itinerary and the work I do as a lawyer. Spend hours and days researching and/or writing to come up with a document that is one page in length. But with any luck is at least lawsuit-proof. I don’t think my kids would file an action against me for negligent infliction of emotional distress, but you never know. My husband, FIL and SIL are all attorneys, so it sort of runs in the blood. I haven’t planned to spend any time at DHS, for example. Heckle loves the Tower of Terror. And she has convinced Jeckle that it’s “just like” the Frog Hopper ride at Hershey Park, which Jeckle loves. The Frog Hopper does bounce you up and down – three feet at the most, so any similarity to the ToT ends there. So if we don’t go, Heckle is mad. If we do go, Jeckle is upset because it’s not the Frog Hopper, but an elevator that will drop you a few stories at random intervals and she's now scared and feeling betrayed. Not a good combo in a 5 year old. You just can’t win.

Jeckle has her heart set on finding “that plant lady” at Animal Kingdom. Which I’m gathering from reading other TRs is easier said than done. The girls know that we’re going next year, so my planned response to complaints that they want to do something this time around is “we can’t do everything this year, but we can try for next year.” I’m assuming that this will not go over well, since statements like “I know you want to go to the mall, but it’s 9 o’clock and it’s past your bedtime, the stores are closed and we can’t go before Saturday, anyway" are met with either stony silence, or a dramatic drop to the floor and a pronouncement that the world, and I, am not fair. Not fair at all. And let’s face it, when you’re young, time moves at a glacial pace. It’s only when you’re old like me that a year passes at what seems like breakneck speed.

I know my mom wouldn’t sue me. She’s not the type. She’d just shrug her shoulders and sigh. Honestly, I’d rather be sued.

 

[tarak]

I have made a total of 4 ADRs and have no plans for the last day of our trip. This is what I’ve got.

Day 1 – arrive at AKL. Dinner at Jiko.
Day 2 – breakfast at Boma. Spend the day at AK
Day 3 – spend the day at Epcot. Probably get most of our calories at various booths at the Food and Wine fest.
Day 4 – spend the day at MK. We have an ADR for Ohana for breakfast. But it’s at 11:30. I am suspicious. 11:30 is not breakfast. It’s lunch. Ohana does not serve lunch. Ohana serves breakfast and dinner. The online reservation system insists that this 11:30 ADR is for breakfast with Lilo and Stitch. The online reservation system also insists that breakfast is served until 11. Every clock known to man tells me that 11:30 is after 11. We’ll see when we get there. At the very least, we’ll have had a fun trip on the monorail.
Day 5 – most likely spend the day at Epcot. Lunch ADR at Akershus. This one really is a lunch, since our time of arrival is 12:20. The evening will be spent at MK for MNSSHP.
Day 6 – wherever the day takes us. Maybe to Downtown Disney and, if I know my kids, a trip to the pool. Dinner somewhere – I’d love to try Sanaa. Other than the occasional bite of naan, my kids aren’t big on Indian food. We did have a brief breakthrough with Heckle last night, who loves most cheese and was willing to try a bite of paneer in my vegetable korma.

It is really hard to get Jeckle to try something new. Even something totally pedestrian, like a hamburger. You’d think I was trying to poison her by feeding her cooked ground beef in a bun. I think she gets it from her father’s side of the family. DHs family is Greek. And to many of them, Chinese food is “out there.” Which is such an odd thing to me, considering what they will eat if it comes from the motherland. Take kokoretsi, for example. Otherwise known as stuffed lambs intestines. For those not familiar with this treat, I have the steps for making it below. As for ingredients, just gut a lamb and you’re good.

• Turn the intestines inside out and wash thoroughly.
• Cut the entrails into small pieces and wash them well.
• Drain and place in a bowl.
• Sprinkle with the desired salt, pepper, oregano and grated cheese.
• Pour a little oil over top.
• Place pieces on a small skewer, alternating the pieces of liver, lung, heart, fat and testicles until all pieces are used.
• Wrap with the intestines and cook on a spit or in the oven, basting with a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice.
• Remove the skewer and cut into slices.
• Serve with lettuce leaves and oregano.

I have eaten kokoretsi. Or rather, gnawed on a piece of kokretsi. It was roughly the texture of a Goodyear tire. After a few minutes of chewing seemed to have had no effect upon it, I removed it from my mouth and, upon closer inspection, saw something resembling a nostril. With a freckle on it. I hid it as discreetly in napkin as possible and disposed of it. As (another) aside, I love most Greek food. I can devour a plate of patstitsio in a minute flat. My MIL makes the best baklava I’ve ever had. And I’ve had a lot of baklava. Her spanikopita is also amazing. She’s even brought me around to liking chicken when cooked in lemon, olive oil and various herbs. Lamb nostril, not so much…

I have to be fair to DH – he is very adventurous when it comes to food. He didn’t even blink when ordering haggis while on our honeymoon in Edinburgh. I happen to love haggis. I could have lived without the side order of neeps that came with every plate of haggis. But haggis? If you’re going to serve minced liver, lung and heart, that’s how you do it.

But I digress. I do that a lot. Which you may have noticed if you’ve read any of this PTR.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I have made a total of 4 ADRs and have no plans for the last day of our trip. This is what I’ve got.

Day 1 – arrive at AKL. Dinner at Jiko.
Day 2 – breakfast at Boma. Spend the day at AK
Day 3 – spend the day at Epcot. Probably get most of our calories at various booths at the Food and Wine fest.
Day 4 – spend the day at MK. We have an ADR for Ohana for breakfast. But it’s at 11:30. I am suspicious. 11:30 is not breakfast. It’s lunch. Ohana does not serve lunch. Ohana serves breakfast and dinner. The online reservation system insists that this 11:30 ADR is for breakfast with Lilo and Stitch. The online reservation system also insists that breakfast is served until 11. Every clock known to man tells me that 11:30 is after 11. We’ll see when we get there. At the very least, we’ll have had a fun trip on the monorail.
Day 5 – most likely spend the day at Epcot. Lunch ADR at Akershus. This one really is a lunch, since our time of arrival is 12:20. The evening will be spent at MK for MNSSHP.
Day 6 – wherever the day takes us. Maybe to Downtown Disney and, if I know my kids, a trip to the pool. Dinner somewhere – I’d love to try Sanaa. Other than the occasional bite of naan, my kids aren’t big on Indian food. We did have a brief breakthrough with Heckle last night, who loves most cheese and was willing to try a bite of paneer in my vegetable korma.

It is really hard to get Jeckle to try something new. Even something totally pedestrian, like a hamburger. You’d think I was trying to poison her by feeding her cooked ground beef in a bun. I think she gets it from her father’s side of the family. DHs family is Greek. And to many of them, Chinese food is “out there.” Which is such an odd thing to me, considering what they will eat if it comes from the motherland. Take kokoretsi, for example. Otherwise known as stuffed lambs intestines. For those not familiar with this treat, I have the steps for making it below. As for ingredients, just gut a lamb and you’re good.

• Turn the intestines inside out and wash thoroughly.
• Cut the entrails into small pieces and wash them well.
• Drain and place in a bowl.
• Sprinkle with the desired salt, pepper, oregano and grated cheese.
• Pour a little oil over top.
• Place pieces on a small skewer, alternating the pieces of liver, lung, heart, fat and testicles until all pieces are used.
• Wrap with the intestines and cook on a spit or in the oven, basting with a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice.
• Remove the skewer and cut into slices.
• Serve with lettuce leaves and oregano.

I have eaten kokoretsi. Or rather, gnawed on a piece of kokretsi. It was roughly the texture of a Goodyear tire. After a few minutes of chewing seemed to have had no effect upon it, I removed it from my mouth and, upon closer inspection, saw something resembling a nostril. With a freckle on it. I hid it as discreetly in napkin as possible and disposed of it. As (another) aside, I love most Greek food. I can devour a plate of patstitsio in a minute flat. My MIL makes the best baklava I’ve ever had. And I’ve had a lot of baklava. Her spanikopita is also amazing. She’s even brought me around to liking chicken when cooked in lemon, olive oil and various herbs. Lamb nostril, not so much…

I have to be fair to DH – he is very adventurous when it comes to food. He didn’t even blink when ordering haggis while on our honeymoon in Edinburgh. I happen to love haggis. I could have lived without the side order of neeps that came with every plate of haggis. But haggis? If you’re going to serve minced liver, lung and heart, that’s how you do it.

But I digress. I do that a lot. Which you may have noticed if you’ve read any of this PTR.

Hahahaha...I totally had to LOL at this post. My mother is from Greece and I've been a few times and her side of the family is seriously out of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. So when you mentioned crazy Greek food all I could think about was kokoretsi and patsa. Bleh! You're braver than I for even trying it. But they are also the same way in that they don't try new things because they're 'weird'.

Have you thought of trying Kouzzina, Cat Cora's new greek restaurant at the Boardwalk? It's supposed to have it's soft opening in August so it'll be open!

 

[tarak]

Hahahaha...I totally had to LOL at this post. My mother is from Greece and I've been a few times and her side of the family is seriously out of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. So when you mentioned crazy Greek food all I could think about was kokoretsi and patsa. Bleh! You're braver than I for even trying it. But they are also the same way in that they don't try new things because they're 'weird'.

Have you thought of trying Kouzzina, Cat Cora's new greek restaurant at the Boardwalk? It's supposed to have it's soft opening in August so it'll be open!

Isn't it funny? We had a big fat Greek wedding. And three big fat Greek baptisms. I love the Greek side of the family, though. My sister is a vegetarian and they have no idea what to feed her when she's in town. I nearly died laughing at the point in the movie where the aunt exclaims that "you don't eat meat? That's okay, I'll make you lamb."

My family is sadly not as interesting. Or at least not loudly interesting.

 

[tarak]

Well, they are in luck.

In an attempt to prevent a complete meltdown from Heckle because it was overcast and there was no way to watch the Perseid meteor shower and she’s wanted to see it forever despite only knowing of its existence for two weeks, I popped in the trip planning DVD sent courtesy of the Mouse. I told Heckle if I had control over the weather, it would be 70 degrees and blue skies wherever I travel. DH had gone to Jeckle’s school to hear about the wonders of kindergarten, so I didn’t have to contend with him rolling his eyes at me. After getting through the intro, we selected the special events option. Heckle and Jeckle both thought the Princess and Pirate party had potential. The brief blurb about Food and Wine Fest came on and Heckle declared that “Mommy would love that one.” At which point, I ducked into the kitchen and put my mojito on the counter intending to finish it after the little darling went to bed.

The event getting the biggest reaction by far was Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Comments like “forget Christmas, I want to go trick or treating!” flew through the air like shoes at George Bush. I suspect there will be no “forgetting” Christmas by December, however, I am beyond thrilled, that the $200 I shelled out for the MNSSHP will not go to waste. Jeckle said she wanted to be a princess but Minnie Mouse would be okay, too.

This is Jeckle from last year’s trip to Disney, so Minnie Mouse will be making a repeat appearance. Heckle has a Tinkerbell costume from last year that will work (she will sigh heavily, resigned to the fact that Mommy is cheap when it comes to Halloween costumes, but will come around once the light-up wings are activated).

I still haven’t decided whether I am dressing up, but suspect I will be considered a kill joy if I do not. I’m thinking the ubiquitous pirate is the way to go.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Living in Pa-I am familiar with Hershey Park-it's actually quite nice-not Disney-but quite nice for a regional park...The Frog Hopper...hmmm....cute ride but methinks that Heckle is going having some explaining to do to Jeckle...

You've been to Edinburgh...?-I've never been to Scotland but have been to London-actually the first time on my honeymoon...and Southern England...I'd love to go to Scotland and actually I would try the haggis at least once to see what I thought-you could always wash it down with a nice red wine or a Scotch if necessary... BTW...what is a neep?

I think your plans look good-and I also think having a "flex" day is a great idea...I envy the Halloween party-you'll have to write a review of it-we've done the Christmas party and I've been dying to do the Halloween party-maybe next year for DD's 16th in October...

I have ressies at many of the same places...Jiko, Boma, and Sanaa for lunch our last day. O'hana is a fun breakfast -I hope it works out for you...if not you have Kona at a possibility for lunch-there is no Lilo and Stitch-but they do a nice lunch...

 

[tarak]

Living in Pa-I am familiar with Hershey Park-it's actually quite nice-not Disney-but quite nice for a regional park...The Frog Hopper...hmmm....cute ride but methinks that Heckle is going having some explaining to do to Jeckle...

I think you're right about that one.

For our honeymoon, we went to London (only spent a few days there, so I don't feel like I've really seen it at all), York (which we explored for a few days - there's a wacky museum there which is in the old prison and has a display on the history of obstetric medicine, which made me glad I wasn't a woman giving birth in the 19th century) and Edinburgh. I loved Edinburgh and would go back there in a heartbeat. We spent the better part of a day at Edinburgh Castle. I'm pretty sure neeps are boiled and mashed turnips. Haggis was also served with tatties, which were mashed potatoes. I liked those.

A good friend of mine has done the Halloween party and said it was wonderful, so I'm really looking forward to that. Especially seeing how excited the girls were at the very idea of Halloween at the World!

I think I'll ask about Ohana when we first check in to make sure there won't be a problem. I don't mind eating at Kona instead - and I'm going to make sure Jeckle doesn't know about Stitch until we actually get there and know it's going to happen. She doesn't do well with disappointment (which I think is in part due to her age and the fact that she is very stubborn).

Your description of your son in your PTR reminded me of Jeckle to a certain extent - she will play with other children but has always excelled at entertaining herself. To the point where her pre-k teachers commented on it. They didn't see it as an issue, but thought it was unusual. Have you ever seen the movie Stripes? There's a scene where John Laroquette (sp?) is playing with his army men. He's doing the voices for the men and making the sound effects and having a great time. I think of that movie whenever Jeckle is playing with her toy castle.

 

[SilverL]

But I digress. I do that a lot. Which you may have noticed if you’ve read any of this PTR.

I enjoy the digression! It's very entertaining!

Hahahaha...I totally had to LOL at this post. My mother is from Greece and I've been a few times and her side of the family is seriously out of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Are you related to me? The older generations of my dad's side of the family are very, very Greek.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

Are you related to me? The older generations of my dad's side of the family are very, very Greek.

HAHA! Umm..I'm sure if you ask either of our families they'll find some sort of connection.

 

[tarak]

I enjoy the digression! It's very entertaining!

I'll have to tell my husband - sometimes it makes his eyes glaze over.

SilverL - one of our family friend's refers to them as the Greeky Greeks (she is Greek herself, but married a non-Greek, which can still raise eyebrows around here - heaven knows what they think of me). OTOH, my husband's family has embraced me (and especially my kids) like I never expected to be. I grew up with a very small extended family (I have one sibling and one aunt and uncle and two first cousins), so it's neat to see my kids grow up with such a huge family.

There's a local restaurant that we've had breakfast at on Sundays since before our first daughter was born, so our kids have pretty much grown up there. This is our son in an outfit they bought him for Christmas last year. I'm seriously thinking of making this our Christmas card for this year.

While this is another tangent, the owner is Greek, so that's why I thought of it.