Let's turn around. Magic Kingdom is open till 1AM! 3/23 Some Final Thoughts

[that's nice]

Love the update! (no wings)

Sounds like a nice relaxing day... minus the temper tantrum.

Can't wait to hear about the rodents!!!!!

 

[amandaw]

I love a good relaxing day at the beach.......until the toddler decides it's time for the obligatory temper tantrum. Oh, yeah, that just makes the day soooo much better!

And I'm scared to think of what must've been in that wing sauce to make it so nasty.

Can't wait to hear all about y'alls Disney adventures!

 

[petals]

Yay Disney next!

 

[Moodyzblu]

Thats weird about the wings .. how do you mess up Buffalo wings ?? Oh well .. sounds like a nice, relaxing day anyway !

 

[afwdwfan]

Makes me appear to be far creepier than I am



Great update though!!!

Hmmm... I hadn't considered the creepy factor.

I was just honored to have someone that eager to read the garbage I'm writing.

(the next ding will be an update)

Oh, so par for the course, huh? (Sorry, I've got a lot of work ahead of me if if I want to catch up to the number of zingers I've felt from you. )

Well, good luck. You've got 1 TR to get them in. I've still got part of your July report and your cruise to help pad my lead.

To heck with the cabanas, I want to take the 4 wheeler for a spin. Those things float, right?

He took the key... not that I looked or anything.

I'm sure he did this is calm, dignified manner befitting any toddler.

If you mean kicking and screaming, then yes. You just have to be careful picking him up when he's kicking. I 've learned to always keep him at arm's length until I can secure the legs. The alternative is rather painful.

How's this for a description --->

That works better than any words I could use on these boards.

That sounds almost as nasty as the buffalo wings...

Not to Cousin Eddie.

Love the update! (no wings)

Sounds like a nice relaxing day... minus the temper tantrum.

Can't wait to hear about the rodents!!!!!

What's a vacation with a toddler without a tantrum or 2 thrown in for good measure?

This one was actually minor in scale.

I love a good relaxing day at the beach.......until the toddler decides it's time for the obligatory temper tantrum. Oh, yeah, that just makes the day soooo much better!

And I'm scared to think of what must've been in that wing sauce to make it so nasty.

Can't wait to hear all about y'alls Disney adventures!

He just needed a nap. He likes to refuse to sleep when there's anything else that he can be doing, but when he's tired it's like a ticking time bomb. We were hoping he'd nap in the cabana, but there was just too much going on.

I don't know what the sauce was. It didn't really have the hot flavor to it. It had kind of an odd sweet taste to it that just wasn't right. That's why I just use Franks when I make them at home. I put that $#!% on everything.

Yay Disney next!

Yes, getting to the good parts!

Thats weird about the wings .. how do you mess up Buffalo wings ?? Oh well .. sounds like a nice, relaxing day anyway !

That's what happens when they mess with something good and try to make their own sauce. All I can figure is that they must have left an ingredient out or added too much of something. Surely that isn't the way they always taste. At least I hope that's the case.

 

[afwdwfan]

Duck!!!

We woke up bright and early on Monday morning. The forecast had indicated some storms moving into the area overnight so I looked out the window to find that the sun was shining and it was a beautiful morning. The waves coming in from the Gulf gave me an indication that the storms would probably be arriving, but maybe just slightly later than predicted. Oh well, can’t control the weather. It either will rain or it won’t. Either way, we’re headed to Disney World!

I told DW that I wanted to be on the road by 7:30. We were in the truck and on the road right on time at 7:45. To be quite honest, I’ve learned a little trick. If I need to leave by 8, I tell her 7:30. Occasionally, we end up making it out the door by the actual target time. Odds are still no better than 50/50.

We made the drive across Florida on I-4 and arrived at Wilderness Lodge at around 9:30.

DS fell asleep on the drive, so I left him and DW in the truck while I went to check in. We knew that we were early and didn’t know if our room would be ready. We were planning to just check-in and get our KTTW and head over to the Contemporary to look around. I walked into the lobby and was blown away by what I saw.

I had done the online check-in, so I proceeded to that part of the counter. To be quite honest, there was no line at check-in at all. I think there was maybe one other person checking in at that time. The CM gave me my paperwork and some pixie dust. Our room was ready!

We decided that since we had a little over an hour before we’d have to head over to the Contemporary, we’d unload the truck and get settled into our room. We had bell services come and help haul all of our worldly possessions up to our room. I think the bell man only had to stop 3 or 4 times to rest on his way in.

When we walked into the lobby, we had our first “Disney through your kid’s eyes” moment. DS took one step through the door and just stopped and pointed at the Christmas tree. “Tree, Mommy, tree!!!” He was pretty excited and had to run around it and investigate.

We went on up to the room and unpacked everything and got it all situated in its proper place. I had an epic battle with the bedrails we requested for DS and I think I won. I’m really not sure how they’re supposed to work (since there are no instructions) but DS was climbing on them and jumping on the bed and they held, so I must have done something right.

A few pictures of our home for the week:

The room was beautiful, but I have to be quite honest. I was a bit disappointed by our “woods view” room. We really just had a few trees, a courtyard and a view of the Villas.

It was about 10:45 at this point so we made our way out to the docks and hopped on the boat to the Contemporary. This is the point where I got goosebumps. I could see the Contemporary, the monorails, Space Mountain, the castle… we are really here!!!!

We checked in for our breakfast at Chef Mickey’s about 20 minutes early, so we were going to have to wait.

The waiting area was packed! DS ran around and settled down for a couple of minutes to watch Little Einsteins on the TV. He got bored with that and started running around some more. I happened to see Donald just on the other side of the wall, so I picked DS up so he could have a look.

“Duck!!!”

“Yes, that’s Donald Duck. Can you say Donald?”

“Duck!!!”

“Eh, close enough.”

It was his first time seeing a Disney character ever and he was pretty pumped about it. Having picked him up once, he wanted to be held so he could keep watching them. He had found his favorites, Mickey and Duck and he’d even pointed out Plu. He seems eager to see them, so maybe it was a good plan to introduce him to the characters right away with a character breakfast!





Or was it???

 

[glennbo123]

I told DW that I wanted to be on the road by 7:30. We were in the truck and on the road right on time at 7:45. To be quite honest, I’ve learned a little trick. If I need to leave by 8, I tell her 7:30. Occasionally, we end up making it out the door by the actual target time. Odds are still no better than 50/50.

If this isn't already a DIS-dads rule, I think it should be!

The room was beautiful, but I have to be quite honest. I was a bit disappointed by our “woods view” room. We really just had a few trees, a courtyard and a view of the Villas.

That looks like a corral for humans down there!

It was about 10:45 at this point so we made our way out to the docks and hopped on the boat to the Contemporary. This is the point where I got goosebumps. I could see the Contemporary, the monorails, Space Mountain, the castle… we are really here!!!!

Always such a great moment.

Having picked him up once, he wanted to be held so he could keep watching them.

See what you started...now you're going to get a workout.

Or was it???

Uh oh, cliffhanger.

 

[amandaw]

Awww, that's so sweet that your DS was so excited by the tree at WL. They do have some gorgeous Christmas decorations there.

Can't wait to hear how did with getting all up close & personal with the characters!

 

[KatMark]

I told DW that I wanted to be on the road by 7:30. We were in the truck and on the road right on time at 7:45. To be quite honest, I’ve learned a little trick. If I need to leave by 8, I tell her 7:30. Occasionally, we end up making it out the door by the actual target time. Odds are still no better than 50/50.

I'll have you know that I am the one always making sure everyone is on the road by the time I want to go; my dad always said that I was very reliable and prompt for a woman.

DS fell asleep on the drive, so I left him and DW in the truck while I went to check in. We knew that we were early and didn’t know if our room would be ready. We were planning to just check-in and get our KTTW and head over to the Contemporary to look around. I walked into the lobby and was blown away by what I saw.

I had done the online check-in, so I proceeded to that part of the counter. To be quite honest, there was no line at check-in at all. I think there was maybe one other person checking in at that time. The CM gave me my paperwork and some pixie dust. Our room was ready!

Gotta love that pixie dust of your room being ready.

When we walked into the lobby, we had our first “Disney through your kid’s eyes” moment. DS took one step through the door and just stopped and pointed at the Christmas tree. “Tree, Mommy, tree!!!” He was pretty excited and had to run around it and investigate.

Love this!

It was about 10:45 at this point so we made our way out to the docks and hopped on the boat to the Contemporary. This is the point where I got goosebumps. I could see the Contemporary, the monorails, Space Mountain, the castle… we are really here!!!!

We checked in for our breakfast at Chef Mickey’s about 20 minutes early, so we were going to have to wait.

The waiting area was packed! DS ran around and settled down for a couple of minutes to watch Little Einsteins on the TV. He got bored with that and started running around some more. I happened to see Donald just on the other side of the wall, so I picked DS up so he could have a look.

“Duck!!!”

“Yes, that’s Donald Duck. Can you say Donald?”

“Duck!!!”

“Eh, close enough.”

It was his first time seeing a Disney character ever and he was pretty pumped about it. Having picked him up once, he wanted to be held so he could keep watching them. He had found his favorites, Mickey and Duck and he’d even pointed out Plu. He seems eager to see them, so maybe it was a good plan to introduce him to the characters right away with a character breakfast!





Or was it???[/COLOR]

Uh oh...now you have me worried.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

I was originally planning to hunt down some “good” pictures to illustrate your last update for ya’ (just cause I’m such a nice nemes… errrr… guy), but you put this one up so quickly that it just wouldn’t be all that humorous any more. Meh… maybe next time.

Duck!!!

To be quite honest, I’ve learned a little trick. If I need to leave by 8, I tell her 7:30.

I do that with my in-laws, but subtract a minimum of an hour to hopefully be on time.
If I actually NEED to be on time, I subtract two.

The CM gave me my paperwork and some pixie dust. Our room was ready!

First win of the day… may there be more to come.

We had bell services come and help haul all of our worldly possessions up to our room.

We were lost having bell services haul our bags.
Only richer folks then I get that kind of attention.
It was very, very strange.

Actually, it was so strange that I was compelled to haul all the bags out to the car myself when we checked out.

Having someone else do it for me just seemed soooo wrong.

“Tree, Mommy, tree!!!”

Leave it to our kids to get right down to the heart of the matter.

I had an epic battle with the bedrails we requested for DS and I think I won.

A video of this would have been good… but I suppose we can take your word for it that you won.

The room was beautiful, but I have to be quite honest. I was a bit disappointed by our “woods view” room. We really just had a few trees, a courtyard and a view of the Villas.

Naaaaa…. You got a good one. We had a “standard view” room
(which I’ll be talking about in the next chapter over in my excuse for a TR).

Trust me… the view that y’all got is quite nice.


Quite…

It was about 10:45 at this point so we made our way out to the docks and hopped on the boat to the Contemporary.

I loved being able to use the boats to get around the different spots in the loop.
They are like attractions all by themselves.

This is the point where I got goosebumps. I could see the Contemporary, the monorails, Space Mountain, the castle… we are really here!!!!

“Duck!!!”

“Yes, that’s Donald Duck. Can you say Donald?”

“Duck!!!”

“Eh, close enough.”

…and he’d even pointed out Plu.

Priceless

Or was it???

***queue ominous John Williams soundtrack here***

 

[khertz]

I just LOVE the lobby at the Wilderness Lodge, especially decorated for Christmas!! That tree is just amazing. What a special moment it must have been for DS to get so excited over it too!

Oh yes, a packed Chef Mickey's waiting room & a restless toddler...does that sound familiar! You must have copied my update. Hopefully he liked the characters...I can't believe you stopped there & left us hanging!!

Looking forward to the next installment.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I told DW that I wanted to be on the road by 7:30. We were in the truck and on the road right on time at 7:45. To be quite honest, I’ve learned a little trick. If I need to leave by 8, I tell her 7:30. Occasionally, we end up making it out the door by the actual target time. Odds are still no better than 50/50.

You're giving away our secrets!

I walked into the lobby and was blown away by what I saw.

I forget, had you been in there before? Hard not to be blown away the first time you walk into that lobby. Especially with the Christmas decorations.

The CM gave me my paperwork and some pixie dust. Our room was ready!

At 9:30?

When we walked into the lobby, we had our first “Disney through your kid’s eyes” moment. DS took one step through the door and just stopped and pointed at the Christmas tree. “Tree, Mommy, tree!!!”

The room was beautiful, but I have to be quite honest. I was a bit disappointed by our “woods view” room. We really just had a few trees, a courtyard and a view of the Villas.

Looks like woods to me. Some rooms give you a view of the dumpster.

This is the point where I got goosebumps. I could see the Contemporary, the monorails, Space Mountain, the castle… we are really here!!!!

Am I supposed to get goosebumps reading about it?

“Duck!!!”

“Yes, that’s Donald Duck. Can you say Donald?”

“Duck!!!”

“Eh, close enough.”

Then you got smacked in the head by a tray a waiter was carrying.

 

[dramaqueenemj22]

Hi! I just caught up on your installments and I must say I'm very excited to be subbing right as your getting into ALL things Disney! Your son is very cute and its a adorable that he calls Donald Duck, Duck. Can't waiting to read more!

 

[My sister's princess]

No adorable photos of you son!!!???? That is hardly an update!


Kidding, kidding! Glad you guys liked the lobby, sorry about the view from your room. Are you a spend alot of time in the room kind of family?


Can't wait for more!

 

[Shannon84]

What a beautiful beach view during the beginning of your vacation!! Besides the chocolate milk incident it looks like you guys had a wonderful time there

WL is beautiful, the tree looks stunning, I couldnt imagine in person what it looked like!! I am excited to hear DS was having a good reaction to the characters!

 

[afwdwfan]

If this isn't already a DIS-dads rule, I think it should be!

I think it is an unwritten rule. And I might be in trouble for putting it in writing.

That looks like a corral for humans down there!

It does kind of look like that guy is scratching his head trying to find a way out.

Always such a great moment.

One of the best feelings in the world.

See what you started...now you're going to get a workout.

I never seem to learn.

Uh oh, cliffhanger.

Well, I would have continued, but I had to get back to work.

Awww, that's so sweet that your DS was so excited by the tree at WL. They do have some gorgeous Christmas decorations there.

Can't wait to hear how did with getting all up close & personal with the characters!

In all honesty, I was just about as excited as he was. That tree is a spectacular sight, especially inside that lobby. Disney definitely does Christmas decorations well.

Uh oh...now you have me worried.

You can't be anywhere near as worried as we were. We had no idea what would happen.

I was originally planning to hunt down some “good” pictures to illustrate your last update for ya’ (just cause I’m such a nice nemes… errrr… guy), but you put this one up so quickly that it just wouldn’t be all that humorous any more. Meh… maybe next time.

I'm glad I have a nemesis who isn't highly motivated to antagonize me.

I do that with my in-laws, but subtract a minimum of an hour to hopefully be on time.
If I actually NEED to be on time, I subtract two.

But does it ever actually work?

First win of the day… may there be more to come.

Don't we hope!

We were lost having bell services haul our bags.
Only richer folks then I get that kind of attention.
It was very, very strange.

Actually, it was so strange that I was compelled to haul all the bags out to the car myself when we checked out.

Having someone else do it for me just seemed soooo wrong.

I typically carry my own, but we had so much stuff, it would have taken several trips. Since we didn't have a lot of time and wanted to get unpacked before we left, it was just easier to get the bell man and his big cart to come to our aid.

I actually hauled stuff back out when we left, but as we'd get a bag full of dirty laundry throughout the week, I'd go ahead and haul it out. We didn't have nearly as much stuff in the room by the end of the week.

Leave it to our kids to get right down to the heart of the matter.

Indeed.

A video of this would have been good… but I suppose we can take your word for it that you won.

I think I did. They were on there. I can't be sure they were on there the right way though.

Naaaaa…. You got a good one. We had a “standard view” room
(which I’ll be talking about in the next chapter over in my excuse for a TR).

Trust me… the view that y’all got is quite nice.


Quite…

It really wasn't a bad view. Just not quite what I expected with woods view. I might be spoiled by the woods view that I have here at home.

I loved being able to use the boats to get around the different spots in the loop.
They are like attractions all by themselves.

We loved the boats. Especially the big ones that we could roll the stroller on to.

***queue ominous John Williams soundtrack here***

Jaws, maybe?

 

[afwdwfan]

I just LOVE the lobby at the Wilderness Lodge, especially decorated for Christmas!! That tree is just amazing. What a special moment it must have been for DS to get so excited over it too!

It was a special moment just to be there. It is one of the resorts I've always wanted to stay at, but had never even visited. The Christmas decorations there were just perfect.

Oh yes, a packed Chef Mickey's waiting room & a restless toddler...does that sound familiar! You must have copied my update. Hopefully he liked the characters...I can't believe you stopped there & left us hanging!!

Looking forward to the next installment.

It sounds vaguely familiar... I don't know where I might have possibly seen something like that.
I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I saw that you did an update about Via Napoli. I'll probably be using the copy and paste on that one too here in a few days.

You're giving away our secrets!

Don't worry. Julie doesn't read this garbage.

I forget, had you been in there before? Hard not to be blown away the first time you walk into that lobby. Especially with the Christmas decorations.

No, first time there. And it is extremely breathtaking.

At 9:30?

When she told me it was ready, I actually asked her if she meant it is ready for us now.

Looks like woods to me. Some rooms give you a view of the dumpster.

Yeah, it is. I guess from the woods view description I was expecting a view of trees... thick trees that you don't see a building through just a few yards on the other side of the tree line. I guess the woods view I have at home just kind of ruins that aspect for me. It was very nice sitting on the balcony though.

Am I supposed to get goosebumps reading about it?

Probably. I get them anytime I even think about it.

Then you got smacked in the head by a tray a waiter was carrying.

I've still got a knot back there.

Hi! I just caught up on your installments and I must say I'm very excited to be subbing right as your getting into ALL things Disney! Your son is very cute and its a adorable that he calls Donald Duck, Duck. Can't waiting to read more!

Welcome! I'm glad you stopped by for the good stuff! Hope to get some more updates up this week.

No adorable photos of you son!!!???? That is hardly an update!


Kidding, kidding! Glad you guys liked the lobby, sorry about the view from your room. Are you a spend alot of time in the room kind of family?


Can't wait for more!

I'm sorry we didn't have any pictures. The next update should make up for it.

The view wasn't bad at all, just not what I expected. We spent more time in the room than normal this trip. Partly because we had a toddler with us, but also partly because we wanted to enjoy the lodge. Personally, I'm the go, go, go mentality at Disney World. I want to see and do everything I can.

What a beautiful beach view during the beginning of your vacation!! Besides the chocolate milk incident it looks like you guys had a wonderful time there

WL is beautiful, the tree looks stunning, I couldnt imagine in person what it looked like!! I am excited to hear DS was having a good reaction to the characters!

The beach was nice and relaxing. I would have preferred to just have 2 more Disney days, but I'm glad we went.

It really was incredible to see the WL. I hadn't ever stepped foot in the lobby and it definitely met and exceeded all expectations.

 

[petals]

I used to do that when I was going up and down to college interviews and stuff if I had to be there for 10 I'd tell Momma 9 so we woudl get there on time. It's a good trick

The Say Donald and getting Duck story is cute. My niece now 13 when she was little and we were trying to teach her santa we'd go say "santa" and she's go "man." Kids versions of names are better anyway

The or was it bit at the end doesn't sound to good!

 

[that's nice]

I swore I posted something here after your last update...

That tree in WL is amazing. I just love the WL lobby.

The view from your room wasn't horrible. This was ours once....

I can't wait to see how breakfast went.

 

[afwdwfan]

I used to do that when I was going up and down to college interviews and stuff if I had to be there for 10 I'd tell Momma 9 so we woudl get there on time. It's a good trick

It's a good trick until they catch on... then you have to keep moving the time up earlier and earlier.

The Say Donald and getting Duck story is cute. My niece now 13 when she was little and we were trying to teach her santa we'd go say "santa" and she's go "man." Kids versions of names are better anyway

I guess as long as they know what they mean and we can figure it out, that's what counts.

The or was it bit at the end doesn't sound to good!

We'll find out soon...