One Too Many, A Tale of Dramatic Events...DAY 2 COMPLETE!

[MissMichelle]

Copied from the Pretrip report board since we are leaving for the airport in less then 8 hours.

Was titled: Plan a Wedding or Go To Disney. The Dilemma 2009. And this is how it started:

DUH!!!


GO TO DISNEY!!!

So this is how I get engaged in WDW (Le Cellier) August 2008 and am currently taking 3 trips this year instead of planning the wedding...No time...not now...Maybe next year.

For those who have read my past reports (which I removed from my signature but can post them for anyone who wants them) know that I started this little obsession in 2004 when I went for 2 nights to Pop with my 4 year old son, during a "Florida Visit with Family". Disney was a GREAT escape and I have been visiting yearly (sometimes twice and this year 3 times) since. I always swear I am going to skip a year---I am told next year IS the year for that. BOO. Apparently its time for a wedding. Sigh--ok. Can it be at WDW??? We'll see how that plays out.

Now I have already taken 1 of the 3 trips (January with my mom and best friend for moms BDAY) and am 14 days 14 hours away from trip #2. So let's get the intro's out of the way (Boring I Know!)

August 23-31

This trip grew from 4 of us (me, DFiance and kids) to 8 of us...we added 2 nieces, a nephew and of course--MOM!

So the pics:



The most recent of me and TC...We have been together for almost 13 years...have a son together (Trae who is 9 who I'll intro in a minute) and his daughter Ashley who is 13 and we have had custody of her since she was 4. Hasn't seen bio mom in 4 years. No big loss---not everyone can be a parent.

Trae---lacks the excitement for roller coasters---sad for me...I LOVE ROLLER COASTERS!!! but is begging to try Summit Plummet this trip-Im kinda scared for him.



Ashley....she is going to be the death of me...A true handful. She just turned 13 and thinks the world revolves around her. The tude is in full force now and she tries to push all limits. As of recent she has become BOY CRAZY. Great.
She hates this picture of her--but oh well, I am writing the report--not her--she looks innocent here



Briana---13 year old niece...Her and Ash are 10 days apart and have been good friends since they met at 10 months old. lol Briana is a true dork..LOVE TINK and is even more boy crazy then Ash (is it possible?!?!?). She IM's and texts me her Disney countdown daily and she is SO excited for this trip.



Tayler...8 year old niece/goddaughter. This will be her FIRST trip to WDW. I took her sister Bri 4 years ago and have been DYING to bring Tay...she was just way too hard to handle when she was smaller so we promised we'd take her someday----well here it is! I am MOST excited for her
Absolute Tom Boy and true Goof...Here she is with her sisters glasses on..



Conner. Turned 3 in May...Can anyone tell me how to EFFECTIVELY handle time-outs and meltdowns in WDW??? haha. I was lucky..Trae and Ash were VERY easy going in public...I know about rests and naps midday---thats not the issue..even with rest he is a HANDFUL and very pushy lately. His mom lives 4 hours away and he is currently living with gramma and poppa....Long Story better left untold. It gets me mad..



LASTLY-----MOM!!!
I love vacationing with Mom...this is our 4th trip together. She is a tad bit stressed about bringing a toddler to WDW and not being able to 100% enjoy herself. But I think it'll be fine...Definite Memories to be made...

Us in January on Dinosaur with my best friend...See the FUN??? hehe (remember the friend as she plays a HUGE part in the September trip.)



So there is the whos who of this trip...Next up---the PLAN.

[MissMichelle]

The current Plans

Disclaimer: Subject to change without notice or written warning. Sorry for the inconvienence.

We arrive Sunday 8/23. The nieces will be sleeping over Saturday and we will finish all the shopping/packing for the trip that night. We have a limo service picking us up about 4am and the kids said they aren't sleeping..HAHA Thry can try that but a few of us are going to brave the EMH at MK that night (till 1am) and I told them they need their rest then after all, it is a travel day!

Sunday we land in Orlando around 10:30 and should be at CSR no later then noon. Hopefully we have a room--if not we'll hang out at the resort for a bit till we do have one, or if its ready we'll head straight to Epcot after dropping off the carry-ons and hit some rides. We have Marrakesh planned for dinner...A First for us...Everyone is leery but me. (?)

Depending how we all feel after that we MAY stay for Illuminations or split up so some can head back to the resort and others can do MK EMH. But that may not happen. Again, we want to have tons of pictures and a lot to fit in all for the sake of a TR

Monday we have Blizzard Beach planned for opening...Throw in a midday rest and we'll be good to go for dinner at Cape May that evening. Early night to catch up on needed sleep.

Tuesday is AK at opening. We will get there and make a dash for FP's to EE and then try to ride standby. From there the Safari is best done in the early morning since the heat proves WAYYY to much for us packed into those trucks. Ick!. I have NEVER seen the Lion King Show, or the new Nemo show...so these are must do-s this trip. We'll have a midday break and swim. Dinner tonight is at Raglan Road so we'll be in DTD for some shopping.

Wednesday Finally a real day for MK. We'll stay until everyone has had enough----but not before I get my beloved Dole Whip. Dinner this night is at 'Ohana. The kids should love this. None have been yet--I went in January and said it had to be on "the list" for the next trip. We'll probably go back to MK for Wishes.

Thursday DHS for opening. Again---get as much done as possible in the morning and head out when the crowds roll in with the heat. Tonight is Whispering Canyon then a bus ride back to DTD for Disney Quest. We love it there...Great "Non Disney" place for the kids.

Friday..Typhoon Lagoon--my FAVORITE water park. Love the Shark Reef, I could spend all day in there. Midday naps and then dinner at Teppan Edo---EMH at Epcot if we are up to it. Usually we do a few rides.

Saturday is a down day. DEFINITE sleep-in day. We want to rent a Pontoon Boat and relax if possible. It'll be more kids choice and we may just all split up this day. Dinner is at Maya Grill so the afternoon will be spent swimming/relaxing. ahhhhh

Sunday, anything goes---what did we miss? What do the kids want to do again? Vacations ALMOST over.

Monday...Departure Day...sleep late is the kids want---then check-out and head to DTD for the final shopping/Goofy's Candy. Leave resort at 4ish on DME for 7ish flight.

Now, I put pretty loose plans..I like to have SOME structure, but we all know how that works out! I don't want to be full commando since we go so often, but there are a few newbies who I want to experience things I KNOW they'll love.

So the countdown is on....I have lots of old WDW to share from past trips so those will be coming up soon...Just need to head to work for a cookout right now and work till 10 tonight (YUCK!).

Hope you'll all join me for my "Partially Live" but "Totally ALIVE" trip report

[MissMichelle]

So today was "back to school" shopping day and I think I did REALLLY well.

Trae:
2 pairs of sneakers
Backpack
6 pairs of jeans (gotta LOVE the $10 jean sale at Old Navy!)
8 shirts (some long sleeved some short)
2 sweatshirts
Won't need a winter jacket since I got that at the end of the season ($140 Timberland jacket--fur and all for $14 at Macy's...SCORE!)

Ashley:
2 pairs of sneakers
1 pair of wedges
4 pairs of her favorite Aero jeans
3 T-s from AE
2 dresses to wear with/without leggings
1 "bag" since at 13 I guess they don't USE BACKPACKS anymore...ahem--skuze me!

So this was enough of a start to get us into the school year (which BTW doesn't start until Sept 8th...not happy about that!) since Im sure they'll be wearing summer stuff still for a bit. As most of you know summer has JUST begun in New England I expect it to go through October. Just my theory.


So I have 9 more work days left until vacation. I don't know how I'll make it through but something tells me my paperwork is going to end up with lots of hidden mickeys...

My best friend (Melissa) is leaving for San Juan Puerto Rico the day after tomorrow...When she gets back we'll only have 4 days together then I am off to WDW...This happens every August for the most part ('cept when she went to WDW with me last year) ---we spend half the month not seeing each other. Which to most wouldn't be such a bad thing--but we have been friends since we were 5 and live just a block away from each other. We also work together, though she is in an office that I don't see her much.
Did I mention SHE is bringing me to Disney for my birthday in September?!? I'll get into those details soon.
She'll kill me for this--but this was on our last trip...hopscotch in England




I have a list of things I am CRAVING...and this :


Is one of them. I don't know why I spent so many trips passing by turkey legs swearing I'd never eat that monsterous looking thing. I nervously gave in and will not go a trip without one now.

A few more pics from last trip

Wonderful empty ToT que



Can you see her nerves? Melissa's FIRST RnR ride!



LOVE the new rooms at CSR---but look at this freakish looking "thing" missing an eye in our room!




So I was going through photos while posting these and I found Trae's first REAL trip (He went when he was 15 months but doesn't remember it) when he was 2...this was 2004---he was SOOO little!





Ok..going to hit the pool with the kids...Just wanted to get some of my "13 days till Disney!" excitement out to those who'd understand!

[MissMichelle]

I have changed my titles. One too many....One too many of WHAT you may ask..... well I guess that is a loaded question.

Drinks? yup

Kids? yup

Dramatic events? Most definitely.

When I first planned this trip it was just for us 4 as I mentioned...then I reallllly wanted to bring my nieces so the plan grew--my mom and the girls. One night after I must have had 1 too many (thats what they are telling me) I BRILLIANTLY turned this trip upside down by saying we should bring Conner. The 3 year old. Now don't get me wrong--he is an awesome lil guy, we love him to death, but he is a HANDFUL...that means less rides for some of us (taking turns to stay off with him) and other things we planned to do.

SO that leads to dramatic events. I am getting MUCH blame for this. This will all play out during the trip Im sure. TC usually doesn't do the big rides (ToT, RnR, EE) but somehow, someway, he is going to do them this year....Go figure.

So I am staying at my beloved CSR. It became my absolute favorite back in 2006, when I booked it JUST because it was the only mod (think $$) with a fitness center. I scoured pages and pages of CSR resort FAQ threads and met some wonderful people there (KATMARK!!!) who have always been so helpful and also share my extreme love for the resort.

Who couldn't with views like this???









and wonderful QUEEN beds

[MissMichelle]

18 hours till we leave the house...Finalizing all of our last minute shopping (TC needed protien powder, we needed extra razors) and I am going to clean the house as much as I can....The plan is to pick up my nieces at 3 and head for pedicures by 4. Chance will be getting dropped off at TCs dad , which I am freaking out as he has NEVER slept out in the 8 years I've had him.

Here's my big guy:


100 lbs of Boxer Loving

This was taken years ago but you can see how much he is stuck to my side..Even at the computer! As he is pretty much right now, while I am sitting in bed on my laptop.



Boarding passes have been printed and there isn't much else to do in terms of preparation so now I just need to enjoy the day.

I'll be back later with some photos and updates and then the next time you hear from me will be tomorrow morning either right before we leave or once i am at the airport.

YAY!!!

[MissMichelle]

So my entire house is wired...except for me..I NEED SLEEP...But this is what is going on with only 6 hours and 45 minutes till we leave the house...





So the excitement seems to have really hit these kids.

HELP ME!!! LOL

[MissMichelle]

So we are waiting to board the pane (about 5 minutes) and will be headed to sunny Orlando.

So far....

Set alarm for 3:00...got up at 3:25 (limo arrived just before 4) and we cut it close.

Because of that I have a frizz ball of hair on my head from planning to straighten it but running out of time...Forgot my hairbrush at home, forgot my air card at home --I am currently paying $7.95 for this post!!! and Trae forgot his Disney Dollars....

We arrive and stand in a LOOOOONG line for Dunkin and eventually get our food....We sit down to eat and after awhile realize that we are at the gate to go to Bermuda?!? They changed our gate so we trudge back across the airport finally making it and settling in for about 15 minutes.

We have a call in to my house to have my dad go get my air card and overnight it to me so I should have it by Tuesday (fingers crossed!) and will be buying internet at CSR until then so that I can post updates.


Pics are taking too long to upload to shutterfly so I'll post them later.

[SunnieRN]

Hi, hope you have a wonderful trip!!!! I have two grandsons, 1 and 4 (today, Happy Birthday Connor, yep he's a Connor also!!) I understand your anxiety and excitement!!

Don't forget rider swap so everyone gets to ride every ride. You tell the cm at the beginning of the line that you have a little one, too small to ride and they give you a pass so that the group can ride and then the other person can ride with (I think) with another person through the fast pass line. Works like a charm. I waited with the kids and my daughter and son in law rode EE, then I got to ride!!

Have fun!! I go next month!

[flafan]

Miss Michelle,

Your report so far is Awesome!!!!!! Thanks for sharing. I will be checking back often to see how your adventure unfolds. Really curious on how it is going with the little guy . I have a 5 year old and he is still a handfull

[MissMichelle]

So the plane is equipped with wifi so leave it to me to bust out the ITouch and connect .(the laptop is dead). we should be landing in 45 minutes and I'll update more if we have a room when we get there. Wish me luck that we got our requests- connecting rooms in casitas 4!.

[MissMichelle]

Originally Posted by flafan

Miss Michelle,

Your report so far is Awesome!!!!!! Thanks for sharing. I will be checking back often to see how your adventure unfolds. Really curious on how it is going with the little guy . I have a 5 year old and he is still a handfull

Hello from another in MA.


Sunniern, When are u going next month? I'll be there 9/23-9/28 again.

[kellyf2626]

Love it so far! Can't wait to hear how all goes at CSR! Hope you get your requests!!

[Lifeangel1]

In 18 days I will be where you are! Soooo excited can't wait! Hope your trip is magical!

[KatMark]

that you get Casitas 4. Can't wait to read more.

[natale1980]

waiting for more.