A Disney-addicted mom braves the August (2010) heat! *11/28 Update!*

[cdotla]

Yay! Amanda! So glad (and jealous) you are there right now!

I confess - I have not been a great PTR buddy as I somehow missed the fact that you were to be travelling alone with the kids on the way down!

However, seems like overall things went pretty well! Good for you!!!

Can't wait to hear all about your trip!!

 

[-Hope-]

I told Kya that you have a dog named Buffy and she was very impressed. If she happens to be named after a vampire slayer then you'll definately be the coolest of my dis friends in her eyes.

 

[lexmas]

Wow, you are speedy for someone on vacation! WDW really suits you!

That is an early start to the day. J.J. didn't sleep through the night until after he was 2.5, so I feel your pain on that one. Some kids are just bad sleepers!

I admit, I was nervous for you travelling with all those kids before I started reading. And then I read about all that pooping, and I was MUCH more worried! (Side question: so was your flight short enough that you didn't have to change Zachary during the flight? I've been wondering how I'm going to change Syd on the plane...the three of us are NOT going to fit into that little bathroom, and 3 hours is probably pushing it for one of her diapers when she's just sitting around eating and drinking on the plane.)

Anyway, it sounds like it went great! I'm sure you pulled out every trick that you have, but you made it in one piece! I am in awe worship and very happy for you that you pulled it off!

That is strange that they made you bring your carry on bags on the bus. Normally I hear the drivers telling everyone to put everything under the bus.

Sounds like check in went smoothly despite the new guy. I had no idea you could get real cribs. That sounds like a much more comfortable place to sleep than a pack n' play!

Hope you're having a great time!

 

[DrMomof3]

yay! I'm so excited that you're finding some time to give us a real-time play-by-play
Glad you got there ok - at least to the lobby! Look forward to reading more, whenever you have some time. I imagine you're going to get real busy with FUN soon!!

Thank you!

sounds great so far!! Is your airport that you flew out of a small one? I tend to find that smaller airports seem to be more laid back and willing to help those in need! If not, that's still great as well!!!

Can't wait to hear about the room!!

I had never been to Islip before but, yes, it is a very small airport. That definitely helped. Although we had a really good experience with nice TSA people at LaGuardia once.

Hi, Amanda!! So excited that you started-- and most of all, I'm SO glad that the airport was easy for you! Thank goodness for understanding TSA workers and that random woman!
Can't wait to hear more! Hope you and your family are having a great time!

Thank you!!! We definitely met some wonderful people on the trip down.

Joining the party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I jsut sat down to my computer and thought "Amanda and family are actually there, right now. I'm so envious!"

I'm honored that you thought of me!!!

I'm here! I'm so glad that you got the travel day so smoothly! I'm sure it was stressful at times but it seems like it went really well. I hope your enjoying yourself and able to relax a little now.

Totally relaxing and enjoying. Thank you!

Shouldn't you be playing at Disney and not online??

Zachary desperately needed a nap so I had an hour to play online. Tom had the big kids in the pool still. It was actually relaxing to sit in a darkened room and re-live my trip so far!

Yay! Amanda! So glad (and jealous) you are there right now!

I confess - I have not been a great PTR buddy as I somehow missed the fact that you were to be travelling alone with the kids on the way down!

However, seems like overall things went pretty well! Good for you!!!

Can't wait to hear all about your trip!!

No worries! I get very far behind when life gets busy. Thanks for the good thoughts!

I told Kya that you have a dog named Buffy and she was very impressed. If she happens to be named after a vampire slayer then you'll definately be the coolest of my dis friends in her eyes.

I'm happy to hear that I'm cool! Buffy is absolutely named after the Vampire Slayer by the same name!!!!

Amanda

 

[lexmas]

haha I guess we posted at the same time. Do you have a hotel room full of sleeping children? If so, I bet you're just relaxing and soaking it all in!

 

[DrMomof3]

Annoyingly, I had typed a huge post about our hotel room. When I hit "send" I lost internet access and my whole post. Somehow if I'm paying $10 per day to have internet access, that shouldn't happen. Anyhoo, I'll try to get back in the zone and re-write it - after I pour myself a nice glass of white wine....

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

This is our first stay at BCV and I didn't know much about which rooms are better. I had heard that the resort operates at capacity most of the time so requests are hard to come by. That having been said, I made 2 requests - #1: NOT 1st floor. I'm afraid of critters (I've read too many snake threads on the Dis! ) and I'm afraid of escaping children. While Zachary wouldn't be able to open the sliding door, Nathaniel can. I don't think Nathaniel would take off but if he left the door open, Zachary might! #2: View of Epcot. I had heard that some rooms have views of Epcot/upper Illuminations. Since my kids go to bed early, it would be my best chance of seeing fireworks.

The 1st thing I noticed when we got our room keys was our room number: 473. Not 1st floor! The kids and I then headed off to find our room. BCV is pretty convenient to BC proper. This was something that worried me a little so I happy that it's an easy walk under a covered walkway to get from one to the other.

We headed over to BCV, took the elevator to the 4th floor and starting walking down the hallway. And walking. And walking some more. We were exhausted, hungry, thirsty, and ready to just be done with travel. A few doors before the very end of the hallway, we found our room.

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

haha I guess we posted at the same time. Do you have a hotel room full of sleeping children? If so, I bet you're just relaxing and soaking it all in!

Zachary isn't quite sure he's sleeping yet. He keeps sitting up to make sure I'm still sitting with him. Big kids are O.U.T.

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

Wow, you are speedy for someone on vacation! WDW really suits you!

That is an early start to the day. J.J. didn't sleep through the night until after he was 2.5, so I feel your pain on that one. Some kids are just bad sleepers!

And Zachary is 27 months so we're right there!!!

I admit, I was nervous for you travelling with all those kids before I started reading. And then I read about all that pooping, and I was MUCH more worried! (Side question: so was your flight short enough that you didn't have to change Zachary during the flight? I've been wondering how I'm going to change Syd on the plane...the three of us are NOT going to fit into that little bathroom, and 3 hours is probably pushing it for one of her diapers when she's just sitting around eating and drinking on the plane.)

I sat in the last row so I'd be right next to the bathroom. I changed Zachary once - out of fear more than anything. He would have been fine since I had just changed him before boarding. Jessica was watching her BRAND NEW High School Musical movie so I left her sitting. I also was able to send her to the bathroom by herself once although I should have put a pull-up on her as a precaution. She wouldn't have liked it but it might have been easier. The bathroom in the back didn't have a changing table thingy so I had to change him standing up on the toilet seat. Luckily he was just wet so it wasn't too bad. The flight was 2 hours 40 minutes so right at the cusp of what you can get away with. I was paranoid because with all the pooping earlier in the day (which ended with that diaper change in the car), I knew that a wet diaper + poop would = major disaster.

Anyway, it sounds like it went great! I'm sure you pulled out every trick that you have, but you made it in one piece! I am in awe worship and very happy for you that you pulled it off!

The kids were really very good. They started to fall apart by DME time but otherwise they were great.

That is strange that they made you bring your carry on bags on the bus. Normally I hear the drivers telling everyone to put everything under the bus.

I agree. We've done magical express 4 prior times without an issue.

Sounds like check in went smoothly despite the new guy. I had no idea you could get real cribs. That sounds like a much more comfortable place to sleep than a pack n' play!

Not all of the resorts have real cribs. I was going to rent one from an Orlando company when I heard (on the Dis, of course) that BC is one of the resorts that sometimes has them. I don't think most people know to ask because even the experience person at the desk wasn't sure.

Hope you're having a great time!

Yes. I'm at my Happy Place!!!

Amanda

 

[purplepeg]

Loving the trip report so far. You are a brave brave women, 3 kids on a plane Can't believe you are keeping up the report while you are there. Hope there will be pictures soon! Hubby and I are doing an adults only at BCV in Sept. Looking forward to hearing what you think of BCV!

 

[DrMomof3]

At this point I honestly didn't care about requests. I just wanted to sit down without worrying about losing a child or carrying heavy things. I wanted to eat something, drink something, and let the kids sleep.

Our room is a typical DVC one bedroom. (Note to self: take room pics!). There's a small entry-way with a console table. Then there's a small but full kitchen, dining table with bench, bar counter with 2 chairs, sofa bed, living room balcony, bedroom with king bed and separate balcony, and then the whole bathroom complex - shower, whirlpool tub, toilet in 3 separate areas.

I got the kids inside and went straight to the sliding glass door in the living room. Walked onto the balcony and saw...... Epcot. The big Spaceship Earth icon of Epcot. I yelled for the kids to come and see. It was an awesome sight to behold!!!

Just then there was a knock on the door. Our groceries had arrived! I started putting them away when another knock brought the crib. They even sent an extra set of sheets for the crib (they must know Zachary! ). I started boiling water for pasta and soon had some food for everyone to eat.

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

Loving the trip report so far. You are a brave brave women, 3 kids on a plane Can't believe you are keeping up the report while you are there. Hope there will be pictures soon! Hubby and I are doing an adults only at BCV in Sept. Looking forward to hearing what you think of BCV!

I never would have planned to fly alone with 3 kids. But I also wasn't going to cancel my trip either! I'm pretty practical about these things. I'm sure as they get older this will all be easier. My youngest still needs to nap every day which gives some nice quiet time in the afternoon. And my kids are all asleep so I get a few minutes to write. I find it helpful to write things as they happen so I can remember the details!!!

I haven't been great about pics yet but I promise they will come. And I don't know how up-to-date the version of iPhoto is on this computer (this isn't my regular computer - it's a really old PowerBook that I use when putting the kids to bed).

I really like BCV so far. A few minor points - one of the burners on the stove doesn't seem to work. The dishwasher is a little old (but not dirty or anything). We had a minor Mousekeeping issue today (will write about it later). I would definitely stay here again!!!!

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

We finally ate. Kids put on PJs (thankfully I packed those in the carry-ons) and brushed teeth. The air mattress wasn't here yet so Nathaniel and Jessica had to share the queen-sized sofa bed. They haven't always done well with sharing a bed.
All 3 kids are finally in bed. I'm ready to crash (without PJs for me I couldn't do much). And then Illuminations starts. Normally this would make me very, very happy. But I have 3 overtired, cranky, fighting children. And fireworks are noisy. I really wanted to watch the fireworks but couldn't because the kids were fighting and yelling. It was actually comical. Everyone was quiet (except Epcot, of course ) and then Jessica would start complaining - loudly - that everyone else was keeping her awake. It was so ridiculous as to be funny. I turned off all the lights in the common areas and made the room as dark as possible. Somehow the kids were finally asleep.
Tom called in the middle of all of this to say he was on the ground. DME took 2+ hours to get him from the airport to BC. Thankfully he went to baggage claim to retrieve his bag so one of us had stuff. That's right. It took DME over 5 hours to get my bags to my room.
On the plus side Tom showed up with a bottle of chilled wine and some coffee filters from BC Marketplace (I had forgotten about filters since we have a gold filter at home). Wine and coffee. The 2 most important parts of a Disney vacation.
We were so tired that we each had a small glass of wine and fell asleep. Zachary woke up at 2am and slept with us the rest of the night. I also realized that my early morning start was unlikely to happen.
So ends the first day....

Amanda

 

[cdotla]

Thank goodness for Tom for bringing coffee and wine!

So fun hearing about your trip as it is happening! And because we just stayed in a 1 bedroom at the BCV on the same side with a view of Epcot, I can picture everything so well!

I must say though - even at nite 1 you already have me beat on a number of things. Even after a whole week there I would not have been acquianted enough with the kitchen to determine that one of the burners was not working.

However, I also wasn't there with 3 kids as young as yours. Sounds like a very smart way to go on this trip! You probably won't want to stay in Disney again without a full kitchen - at least until the kids get a little older.

Looking forward to hearing more!

 

[klacey1]

What a mess with DME! I usually find it to be so effective.
However-- what a view! Make sure you take pictures!! Yay for no first floor.
I can totally picture Jessica complaining about people keeping her up...with dead silence around her. I literally LOL'd when I read that!

 

[dismagiclover]

Awesome that you got your room requests! Now the travel day is over so hopefully the fun can really begin.

 

[cherokeemamma]

I'm ready to join the party! Looks like fun!

So happy you got your room requests.
Great start...looking forward to more!


TTFN
Darlene

 

[lexmas]

Your room sounds beautiful! I can't wait to see pictures of the view!

Too bad you couldn't enjoy the fireworks. I'm sure you will have another chance.

It sounds like such a long day. I didn't realize your DH was getting in later the same day. At least that is over and now you have help! You made it! Now vacation can really begin!

Oh, and I forgot from before....SNAKES? I wanted first floor because it's SO easy with the stroller just to roll on in the room. But now I'm going to be worried about snakes the whole time! Yikes!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

sounds like a crazy first day but you made it!!! Can't wait for all those room/view pics!

 

[DrMomof3]

Thank goodness for Tom for bringing coffee and wine!

So fun hearing about your trip as it is happening! And because we just stayed in a 1 bedroom at the BCV on the same side with a view of Epcot, I can picture everything so well!

I must say though - even at nite 1 you already have me beat on a number of things. Even after a whole week there I would not have been acquianted enough with the kitchen to determine that one of the burners was not working.

However, I also wasn't there with 3 kids as young as yours. Sounds like a very smart way to go on this trip! You probably won't want to stay in Disney again without a full kitchen - at least until the kids get a little older.

Looking forward to hearing more!

It just happens that the 1st burner I turned on didn't work! I'm not cooking a lot (although I did just make a cup of tea). I love having a kitchen AND laundry.

What a mess with DME! I usually find it to be so effective.
However-- what a view! Make sure you take pictures!! Yay for no first floor.
I can totally picture Jessica complaining about people keeping her up...with dead silence around her. I literally LOL'd when I read that!

This was our 1st time having a problem with DME so I was quite disappointed. For the kids and me it still made sense since I never could have done the luggage myself. For Tom a cab would have been better.

Awesome that you got your room requests! Now the travel day is over so hopefully the fun can really begin.

Exactly!

I'm ready to join the party! Looks like fun!

So happy you got your room requests.
Great start...looking forward to more!


TTFN
Darlene

Welcome and thanks!!!!

Your room sounds beautiful! I can't wait to see pictures of the view!

Too bad you couldn't enjoy the fireworks. I'm sure you will have another chance.

It sounds like such a long day. I didn't realize your DH was getting in later the same day. At least that is over and now you have help! You made it! Now vacation can really begin!

Oh, and I forgot from before....SNAKES? I wanted first floor because it's SO easy with the stroller just to roll on in the room. But now I'm going to be worried about snakes the whole time! Yikes!

I'm more worried about a child running off (we have some tempers in our family! ) than the critters. But I did read some bad snake threads, too. While I probably could brave the parks alone with the kids, that was never the plan.

sounds like a crazy first day but you made it!!! Can't wait for all those room/view pics!

It was an exhausting first day but really it went fine. Travel is always tiring and this was no different.

Amanda