"I HAVE to wave to the monorail!" Sept 11-17 TR

After a stop at Dairy Queen for lunch, onward! Back on the road at 1:00.

We had goody bags with small toys in the car for a little less than every hour of travel time. This cut most meltdowns short. The only meltdowns it didn't curtail when DD needed to sleep. So it went pretty well.

Orlando. DD woke up about here, and I started blowing bubbles, which had the kids giggling until the next photo.

DS was suddenly as excited as I was. He started bouncing in his seat and shouting as soon as he saw the monorail. "IT'S A MONORAIL, MOM! A MONORAIL! A DISNEY MONORAIL!"

Oooooooooo....

Checked in to the villas. The lobby was so much nicer than the photos suggested. SO pretty. Then our room... Remember how excited my son was about seeing a monorail?

Oooooh, yeah! Talk about a great start to Disney magic!

It was after 6, so we meandered over to the main building to pick up the double stroller and get dinner. My mom chose the Grand Floridian Cafe. DS was not having it. "But I HAVE to wave at the monorail!" "You will have plenty of time for that, honey." "But I HAVE to!" "No, not really..." I also made the mistake of describing the meaty macaroni as such, instead of calling it pasta. DS was expected cheeseburger mac instead of red sauce. At least he liked the bread.

He cheered up once we were back to the room.

MK day 1 Continued...
DD disney bounding as Belle, DS wearing Grandma-made Mickey shorts.
The monorail was still down as we left the park, so we took the ferry. SO much better than the bus. DS loved the "super fast" boat ride. DD passed out between getting off the ferry and getting to the villas. She slept for 2 hours while DS, Grandma, and I had cheese sticks, yogurt, and apples for lunch. DS enjoyed watching the monorail and people from the balcony while Grandma took care of some work and I tidied the room. DD woke up, and wanted nothing to do with any of the snacks we brought, so we headed out to get her and Grandma something to eat. We headed back at around 2 PM or so. Back to MK, only this time the monorail was working! SO much smoother all around! DS needed a potty break, so Grandma and DD shared a Mickey bar while I took him. Changed him, got back to Grandma and DD, headed to see Tinkerbell! Both kids were so much happier now.

Tink was working on wing covers, so fairies can fly in the rain. I personally think they'd be great for visiting her sister. It was about 3 by this point, and DS was a bit peckish. We stopped at Casey's for some hot dogs, and every table was filled. Half with single travelers with not so much as a water bottle to occupy the table. I get it. A parade will be here soon, and it has a decent view. I'm still trying to balance 3 meals, drinks, and push a double stroller (Grandma ran in because I forgot a drink.) As I sat awkwardly on a single free chair off to the side, a guy looked around and realized there was nowhere for anyone with food to sit. "Oh! Would you like to sit here?" I'm pretty sure I raised an eyebrow with a "ya think?" thought, but I smiled, thanked him profusely, and started feeding my kids. Shortly thereafter, the Fantasy Parade came by.

We had to tear off the end of each corn dog nugget before the kids would eat them. XD The kids finished eating a few minutes after the parade ended. We had no plans until 6:15 when I had a FP for Peter Pan's Flight. So we went back to Fantasyland to meet Minnie, Daisy, Donald, and Goofy. But then....

The splash train. I don't have good pictures from our first stop there. Animals, water, and TRAINS. DS was in heaven. He played for a while. I tried to talk him into leaving to meet characters. Nope, not having it. DD got bored with the water. Finally, DS bolted to the other side of the train, ignoring my calls to slow down, come back, etc. So we left. Went to stand in line for Minnie and Daisy. DS was in a bad mood until it was our turn with Daisy.

I told Daisy what DS wanted to name DD. (After I told him Yellow Train was not an acceptable baby name) he wanted to name her Daisy Duck. She was smitten with DS. While DS doesn't look too pleased here, after the fact, he said "That Daisy Duck, she's a pretty nice guy." He was in a much better mood for Minnie... But DD was starting to melt down, because I didn't let her run to Minnie when the previous family was up there.

Minnie was GREAT, too! These two were among my favorite character interactions of the trip. Nope, not getting back in line - we planned to head to the baby care center, as DD was in full meltdown. Changed her, put her in the stroller, and she was asleep almost immediately. DS played at the splash train some more. A toddler somehow ended up in the splash area naked. His mom saw, but didn't bother catching/re-dressing him, just stood nearby looking annoyed. DS was weirded out enough to leave without a single complaint. Another bathroom break for him, and we left Storybook Circus at about 5:15.

(Note: I don't remember what time of day I took this. Looks like morning, but I don't really know.)

"What now?" "Hmmm. Do we eat something now - it's a little early for dinner with our late lunch, but DS needs..." "We need a cold snack." "Alright..." I turn into a woman on a mission.

A mission for Dole Whips.

We hoof it across MK to Adventureland and re-ask for directions. Exploring Adventureland, my plans for MK day 2 start changing. Get to Aloha Isle. Pineapple juice for DD, 2 Dole Whips, some more water.

DD hates the pineapple juice (what doppelganger is this? DD LOVES pineapple.) Grandma tries a bite - meh. I try a bite. I'm not a fan. Too sweet. DS eats enough to make up the grown-ups' indifference. DH calls at this point. It feels like a quiet moment, but it's still too loud to make out what the other is saying. Ah well. We hoof it back to PPF... and it starts raining. I get ponchos on the kids, realize I left the adult ponchos at the room. My mom doesn't listen when I try to tell her where stroller parking is (I'd looked on our way through earlier) and doesn't slow down enough for me to get her attention. It takes her 15 minutes to find stroller parking. I'm irritated, DS is annoyed about the rain and the poncho, DD wriggles out of her poncho, when we get into the FP line for PPF. And it's a 15+ minute wait in the FP line. Oof. I bring out fruit snacks for DD who hadn't touched the Dole Whips, and she gets happier. The kid behind us in line is about DD's size. He holds her hand, and DD goes in for a hug, but he turned. She stumbled a little...

So he kicked her. Knocked her down, had her bawling.

Fortunately his parents were as shocked and dismayed by this as I was. I was not a happy camper, though, even once I got my child calmed back down, and was watching everyone like hawks, pulling our kids away from him about once a minute. I normally would've been friendlier (they were a nice Minnesotan family - really sweet), but seriously. Your kid just KICKED my 14 month old, and you didn't even say sorry. Grumble grumble grouch.

Anyway. My first time on PPF. DS loved it. He was mad when we got off. I figured a dry shirt (rain plus the splash and soak) would help, so I told my mom I'd meet her at the Philharmagic shop while she got the stroller, if she'd go get the stroller. DS, however, was not remotely calm enough to look to a shirt, so we turned around to look for Grandma. She must have been faster than anticipated, though, because I got to her stroller parking and back without seeing her (DS calmer by the minute). Texted her. "Oh, we're in Castle Couture. Should we head back to you?" .... "Stay there, I'll find YOU."

In my head, my husband and mother-in-law are chirping happily about how miserable I'm gonna be all week. Understandably, I don't have any photos from this part of the day

Find Grandma and DD. Time to go to the baby care center again, but we have enough time to pick up a rice krispy treat. We go into the Main Street Bakery before remembering it's just a Starbucks. The cast member at the door directs us to the confectionary. We REALLY enjoy browsing there. Grandma lets DD out of the stroller while I find what I'm looking for (I have a small armful of merchandise.) DS wants a candy fan thing. DD is mesmerized by lollipops. Cue her trying to take all the things off the shelves, and once I get her away from displays she can reach, she bolts for the door. I literally drop everything and dive for her. Grandma says she'll pay for everything while I let DD vent some chaos. We meet back up, quick stop at the baby care center/bathrooms, then off to dinner... DD conked out the minute she was back in the stroller. We go to Cosmic Ray's, where they manage to leave out of our order what we came for (chicken nuggets), instead giving us an extra order of fries, but I was too tired to care much, and DS was happy for more fries. I got a falafel burger, but didn't realize it was just patty and bun. Oh well. Grandma took DS to the potty while I was ordering. With sleeping DD. Yeah, she woke up halfway through, and in full Princess Stitch chaos form. DD and I enjoyed the green beans and DS enjoyed the fries. Then to find a spot for fireworks. We had an obscured view off to the side of the castle.

As Tink flew overhead, my mother-in-law and husband's nay-saying in my head stopped...

DS LOVED Wishes. DD didn't like the sound too much, but she loved the quieter ones. Their awe and delight made up for so many of the little annoyances of the day.

Then the cattle drive out. Oh well.
When the traffic was "really clear"...

Sorry it's so blurry. I was trying to not get separated from my mom and kids.

Park day one? Kind of a downer, but I learned a lot and adjusted plans and expectations. Lesson 1: Not much will get done, so don't plan on much. Since Day 2 was intended to be AK+HS, I pared it down to just HS.

It's been a while.
Wednesday was our scheduled rest day, and Grandma's Surprise Day. Kids wake up bright and early, get dressed, my daughter has a tangerine and some yogurt, my son has an apple, waves to the monorail a few times, then lays down in my lap (nice warm snuggles) and falls asleep


What?

This kid NEVER naps. This was his 4th nap since he was on a newborn schedule. Our breakfast reservation is at 9:45. We let him sleep as long as we can (til 9:20.)

Grandma surprise #1: A Supercalifragilistic Breakfast!

So this breakfast buffet is pretty wonderful. Tigger is great, Winnie is sweet (DD just wanted to pet him), Alice is fantastic. DS was pretty reticent about everything. Mary fixed his collar.


The general staff was great, too. Talked DS into at least a neutral mood.

Well, my mom and I liked the buffet, DD liked the POG juice. DS just wanted to go watch the monorail. I kiss DS's head, and it's warm. Uh-oh.

Grandma Surprise #2: Grandma's first massage and wrap. We walk over to Senses (me trying not to argue with my mom, because she keeps trying to go in the opposite direction, despite knowing she's going to the spa. "Let's go look at the lake!" "Mom, your appointment is in 15 minutes." "Oh." We start in the right direction. "Let's ride on the elevator!" "No, mom, your appointment is in 12 minutes.") I get her settled in and take the kids back to the room. Both kids nap basically until Grandma gets back. They were taking this rest day thing seriously. After 45 minutes of napping, though, DS feels nice and cool again.

Grandma Surprise #3: High Tea! This goes marvelously. The kids get apple juice instead of chocolate milk. I got the strawberries and cream - don't remember what my mom got. DS loves the cream puff swan, and DD loved the fruit. We all got full, to the point that we brought some back to our room.


Next, Grandma wants to ride the monorail and look around the monorail resorts. DS is doing better, so OK. I get a caricature of the kids done at the Contemporary.




DD and DS started melting down as soon as we got to the Poly. So after 2 minutes in the lobby, we headed back to the monorail and our room. DS was warm again, and laid down to watch TV and fell asleep. We had planned to go to Disney Springs as soon as DD woke up. There was a 30th anniversary showing of Labyrinth, a movie my mom and I ADORE, that I'd gotten tickets for a few weeks prior. But mommyhood prevails, and I stayed back with the kids. Ordered room service, trying to keep the cost down. DS is feeling hot enough that I want to take his temp to see if he needed some tylenol. So I call the concierge to see if there is any way to get a thermometer. "No, but let me call the paramedics..." Noooooooo! Food came, DS wouldn't eat any of the soup, so I just put him in the bath, then get him into his PJs. My mom calls. I somehow managed to get the wrong tickets - for the Sunday showing instead of the Wednesday showing. DD ate all of the salmon, and I accidentally spilled the entire bowl of soup when trying to heat it up to a temp I'd like. Around this time, DD gets fussy, cuddles up in my lap, and immediately goes to sleep while my son moans that he want popsicles, his cat, and Daddy. My son is sick (and it was only the third time he was ever sick), I'm hungry and soaked with chicken broth, my mom missed her only chance to see Labyrinth in theaters because of me, and I wasted the money on the tickets (so I feel like I let down DH)... I started bawling.

Basically as soon as I was able to set DD down...


My mom got back with half a sandwich from Earl of Sandwich (the meal was too much for her), vouchers for a movie at any AMC theater, and children's tylenol. I started sniffling again. Ate my mom's leftovers, took a shower, my son woke up long enough for some tylenol, and I went to bed wantng nothing other than for my son to feel better by morning.

Just caught up, loving all your character interactions! Can't wait to read more!

cyneswith said:

Checked in to the villas. The lobby was so much nicer than the photos suggested. SO pretty. Then our room... Remember how excited my son was about seeing a monorail?

Oooooh, yeah! Talk about a great start to Disney magic!

Click to expand...

That is an amazing view of the Monorail; is that the view from your balcony? Fantastic action shot; even though you cannot see his face, I can certainly tell how excited he must have been!