A No Snooze Bar Christmas, Harry & Mickey are Waiting..it is done

[momabaarjo]

I like the Trees and in America they are all so much bigger than the ones we have over here in shops or anywhere really. If you saw my facebook albums I tried to count the trees as I went along it worked until I got to Seaworld

I love the update esp the idea of Ab lighting up seeing the castle. Momma says same bout me. She says it's like a light comes back on that isn't on all year round when I see the Disney sign.

I think you were the one that started my obsession with the Christmas trees!

Love the update. I haven't seen Royal Pacific. Reminds me a little of the Poly's theming. Very pretty. Getting so excited for Universal!

I loved seeing your pictures of the other 2 USO resorts. I would love to stay at the Hard Rock if we ever go back. RPR does remind me too of Poly...but I like RPR entry lobby so much better...POLYs seems dated to me and dark.

Yeah! All caught up! Love the airport reveal and I wondered when Ab started smiling if she might have had a 'clue' this could be coming.

And I'm happy her momma got to relish in her baby girl's smiles that day! Does make it worth it!

By the way, my kids loved those Hammonds candy canes!

I will try to make it back over here quicker than last time!

Glad they liked the candy canes!

Love the hotel!! Very pretty and gorgeous rooms Kiddos look very happy!

They were pretty happy at that moment!

"and the kids wanted to go and check out..."

What? What did they want to check out?



I see how ya are. This is going to be on going in your TR isn't it? Always leave us hanging and wanting more?

Can't wait to read more!!! great update!! The resort looks very pretty... and the kids in their ski hats in the sun cracks me up.

The ski hats were a nice touch to the picture with the palm trees! Check out...poor choice of words. I hope you want more of my TR...because I feel like it is heading towards boredom real fast.

Great update. And I'm hanging again?!

The rooms look great!

Yep, hanging again....

Your movie night with Snowballs Express looks like so much fun. I have to admit.. I have never heard of the movie before.

I love all of your pictures of the Royal Pacific Resort. We will most likely do a split stay with a Disney resort next time we take a family trip. DH loves Universal and having the express pass and early entry will be great. It looks much nicer than I imagined.

Snowball Express is from the mid 70s...fun movie. The boys asked today if I had sent it back because they wanted to watch it again...

The early entry and the express pass are the only way to really do USO in my opinion. I found the hotel to be very nice, comparable to the Deluxe at Disney.

 

[momabaarjo]

Who Cares About Santa When You Have...

What do all kids want to check out (even more so that it is technically winter)…THE POOL!

This is not a hard request since the pool and where we will be eating is in the same general area. So we head down the stairs and outside back into the warm Florida air to look that the pool and let the begging begin about swimming after. Before I can respond, Boo reminds me that I had said that this would be 2 weeks of “YES” days and the word no is not an option along with his big smile and puppy dog eyes...my stunned child from the reveal is back with his witty personality. I remind him that we have to be up EARLY for Harry in the morning, so it will all depend upon what time we finish dinner. After a few more minutes of slipping toes and fingers into the pool and checking out the ENTIRE perimeter, I round the troops off and we head back inside for Christmas Buffet Dinner in the Islands Dining Room at the Royal Pacific Resort.

I had gone back and forth for the last couple of months where to have Christmas dinner at. Originally, I had booked Churricsa (Brazilian Steakhouse) on City Walk. They initially had great reviews, so I was excited to book this for my carnivore husband, but recently all the reviews had turned negative. So I started looking at other places. Jeff has always wanted to go to a Ruth Chris Steakhouse, but when I checked on it back in July it was not going to be open on Christmas…in early December I found that it would be open, but the only ADR I could get was for 8 pm, way too late considering the next morning/a day of travel/plus we would have to take taxi…too much hassle. So I started stalking Open Table when I discovered the Christmas Buffet at RPR, but they did not have anything open…so for the next two weeks I looked every day for earlier times…finally 3 days before our trip a 6:30 reservation for Islands came open and I took it, a lot less hassle than going to City Walk or getting a taxi. We arrived about 15 minutes early for our reservation (I had noticed looking into the windows of the restaurant while checking out the pool that there was quite a few open tables) hoping to get seated early. While we waited we took a picture of the kids by the tree which was decorated in lots of blown glass ocean type animals.

Within moments we were called, received our leis, and taken to our table.

Dinner was a variety of buffet stations…carving, seafood, traditional Christmas fair, noodle/stir-fry, kids, and dessert. Carrie, our server, came over to welcome us and explain the lay of the stations and to take our drink orders…and for the adults complimentary…

Hey it is Christmas and we are celebrating so why not. I remained at the table while Jeff took Goo to get him started and Ab and Boo went their ways as I waited for my mimosa and smiled to myself about what a great day…my drink arrived and I texted my little PTR followers with a picture and wished them Merry Christmas and FINALLY the family arrived back with their food and I was off to check out the buffet. I must say that they had A LOT to choose from, being that I knew the price of the buffet I of course had to check out the crab legs, first and with it being Christmas how about some sweet potato casserole (great combo I know).

Ab decided to be adventurous tonight and try out the freshly made Sushi bar and then the noodle/stir fry station.

Sorry that I did not get pictures of the boys plates…they thought I had lost my mind when I started taking pictures of my food. For most of the trip report you will see only my food…family just does not understand. During dinner Santa made an appearance, but he never seemed to make it to our table…

which WHO CARES ABOUT SANTA ON CHRISTMAS because this guy made to the table and the boys were ecstatic (guess who did not have the autograph book?)

Homer Simpson tried to come by, the kids basically ignored him (we are not Simpson fans in our house…I don’t think the kids have even scene 5 minutes of the show) so he left pretty quickly and I did not even snap a picture. After my first course, I decided to check out the stir fry station, since Ab’s plate looked so good. It seemed like an endless wait in line, probably because the people in front of me had to nit pick everything the chef was doing...poor guy! But finally I got mine...

By this time the boys had found the kids room, complete with face painting, cartoons, balloon animals, and DESSERT! They had a field day in there and I believe that ate more dessert than anything (but it is Christmas and vacation, right?)

Goo was pretty upset when Boo came back with a hat...he did not know that was an option and started to pout. Ab, being in the Christmas spirit, went in and had a hat made for her and returned giving it to Goo. Teenage girls can be sweet to their little brothers some times! Next up was the best part of the meal...(okay any meal), dessert. Here are a few of the desserts that I picked out…Egg Nog Crème Brule, Pear Tart, Grasshopper Pie, Apple Cobbler with Carmel Sauce, and best of all molten chocolate cake!

Here is Ab's dessert plate...I have no idea on earth why she got a roll to go with it!

During the dessert course we were entertained by hula dancers and a ukulele player.

We kept waiting for Santa to come over and dance like he had done on the other side of the room, but again he seems to never appear. I tried to get the boys out to dance with them, but they were still too focused on…

I swear that Goo must have ate his weight in these little Black Forest Desserts! Overall the dinner was very nice and the food was good (the price not so much). I remember sitting there near the end of the meal smiling to myself that I had pulled this trip off and how incredible it was that here we were Christmas Dinner in Orlando while sipping...

I really was enjoying that moment, until…

 

[momabaarjo]

Lucky for you it is a very sleepless night for me...so you get 2 updates! ​

 

[momabaarjo]

Swim In, You Know Like A Drive In but with a Pool​

Just when I was finally taking a moment to enjoy the moment (probably the only time during the whole trip)...Goo got his fill of desserts and was ready to go…go and swim that is! Checking my watch, I reminded the kids at what time we had to get up in the morning and be out of the room. They assured me that if they could swim that they would get up when I said it was time. So we headed back up to our room and quickly changed ready to swim. We arrive back down to the pool and there was a movie playing near the pool. Boo informs us that we are going to a Swim In…you know like the Drive In but here you swim instead of drive. Ab got excited when she realized it was her favorite Christmas movie…The Grinch!

It took us awhile to find a chairs to put our stuff on…not because of a lot of people and empty chairs but because I could not find a central location to be able to see everyone in the pool (old lifeguard habits are hard to break/protective mommie mode)…Ab wanted to go check out the movie and the boys were off to the water cannon/play area. I joined Ab for a while at the movie, until she decided it was time to bug her brothers and we all ended up at the play area with the boys aiming for us in the water.

I am not sure how long we stayed in the pool…the night was so beautiful, enough to make you forget that it is Christmas and this morning we had awoken to snow. I finally pulled everyone out (under lots of protest) and got us back to the room and ready for bed. As the lights go out, I remind them we can’t keep Harry waiting in the morning! So the question I leave you hanging with...Will we make to the gate by 6:15 am for early entry at 7:00 am?

 

[momabaarjo]

Today my funny, laid back, and good natured boy turns another year older! Where has the time gone? In honor of this day, I thought I would share some pictures of him from our trip...

I remember the day well...I knew something was out of sorts this time that morning, but it was 2 weeks early and dang it I still had to teach diameter and circumference and then it was BUNKO night. Made it through school and thought I might want to check in with the doctor...still no contractions or anything but out of sorts. Drove myself to the doctor...still nothing...waited and waited for the doctor when the nurse decides to go ahead and check...hmmm dialated to a 8 and no contractions?! She is going to send me across the street to the hospital when doctor arrives (along with Jeff) and there is my first true contraction. Yep, lets go! Drove myself across the street...get settled in my room, no time for drugs this boy is coming...From first contraction to finish less than 2 hours! Dang missed BUNKO, but I got circumference taught!

 

[FosterA]

Yay! Nothing better to getting up to a quiet house with my coffee in hand and hopping on the DIS to find all sort of juicy updates on your report.

It sounds like your first night was wonderful! The pool area at night looks so fun. My kids would have begged to swim the very first possible second too.

The dinner and drinks look awesome and I really want some of that grasshopper pie!

Can't wait to hear about waking the troops on the first full day. I really wonder about AB??

oh and happy birthday to your son!

 

[shocky5]

Awesome update!! I'm really happy that your reveal went off so well, and that you made it there okay AND that the kids got to swim on Christmas Day night! Love the movie by the pool, too!!

I have a friend who just got back from WDW and USO/IA and she has talked so much about USO/IA and Harry Potter that I find myself making promises to me to take the family there the next trip. I love the look/feel of the resort you all stayed at!

 

[Leger13]

Great update! That pool looks absolutely amazing! I can see why the kiddos wanted to go swimming so badly! And dinner looks/sounds amazing! Now, don't update too much while I'm gone, ok?

 

[annmarieda]

Great updates! Looks like dinner was a hit. I know when I was planning on staying over Christmas that was a challenge for me... the "where to have Christmas dinner"

The pool looks fun. I have never done a swim in (not much of a swimmer) but our towns pool does them often and I know people tend to love them.

And.. last but not least... a happy birthday to your ds! I can't believe your labor story!! I envy you... mine were never easy or quick.

 

[Sara1Babe]

Sounds like an absolutely perfect first day. I vote you'll be late to HP :-/ late nights and time zones and such.

 

[lovethattink]

The food at the Christmas buffet looked great!! To think, just days before you weren't sure what you were doing about Christmas dinner. Looks like you made the right choice!

That pool looks amazing!!

Gotta love Dive Ins, especially when it's your favorite movie!

Happy Birthday to your son!! I hope he had a fabulous day!

 

[sl_underwood]

Great update! Love the dive in!

 

[petals]

Luv the update. Christmas tree obsession is good btw

Happy Birthday to your DS

 

[momabaarjo]

How EARLY Is Early Entry?​

Before going to bed I made sure that everyone’s clothes were laid out for the next (this would become my routine every night of the trip)…remember I did the packing so I get to choose what everyone wears for the day. Last summer I had purchased everyone HP shirts just for this occasion (except Jeff who gets a black pocket T to match the color scheme). They were so excited about their shirts (Boo was the only one to see them because I let him wear his to the midnight release party of HP 7.2). I especially love Goo's…so fitting for him “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good” I also made sure that I had my alarm set for 4:30 am (trying my best not to convert it back to CST, which would make it 3:30 am) because my goal is to have everyone up and out the door by 6:00 am (again for us 5:00 am). Having experience WWofHP crowds before, I know how you must get there early, get things done, and get out before the masses of crowds arrive. WWofHP is not a fun place to be in the midst of a crowd because of its size (dictated apparently by JK herself and meant to be that way…so no grumbling). Sleeping arrangements were made by the kids…boys in 1 bed and girls in the other (pay backs for having to sit next to Goo on the plane all day) and with that it was off to dream about Harry. Morning came all to early, but I excitedly climbed out of bed and went about the task of getting myself ready and Jeff in the shower…don’t have to use the Rennervate spell on the kids for they hear me up and they raring to go! Wow, that was easy even my teenage daughter is bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning…not a grumble to be had!

And of course we find ourselves waiting on Dad (something we are going to be doing the entire trip, maybe I should have named the trip report something to that effect). Will we make it out the door? The kids are getting restless and the pressure mounts on Dad…who is not being very magical. I do not understand how I can get 4 people dressed and ready to walk out the door in less time then he takes to get only himself around. Finally at 6:05 he is ready to walk out the door and off we go. When we get out into the predawn Orlando air there is a heavy fog hanging in the air, but it is warm and with thoughts of Harry running in our minds no one seems to care. I quickly lead the family down the path towards IOA…it is about a 15 minute walk from the RPR (with Goo). Jeff quickly notes that it seems like we are on the River Walk in San Antonio as a water taxi passes us by headed to RPR for the first pick up of the day (YES WE ARE AHEAD OF THAT GROUP). We make it to the security check area right before you come to City Walk and guess what; no one is manning the booth. HAH, I guess they figure terrorists don’t get up this early, only Harry crazies armed with wands! We come up over the last little hill and to Jimmy Buffet’s and the song comes into my head…its 5 o’clock somewhere (hmmm…that reminds me we have 5 o’clock ADRs here today…). We cross over the bridge into IOA where we are greeted with

towering high above our heads. The boys want to know if they can climb up it…no is my response its only for decoration (at least I have never heard of anyone being allowed to climb it). As we approach the gates we notice that there is NO ONE in line but we do notice a group of people entering from a side gate. Remembering back to last time I had visited, they let people in to line up outside of HP in Lost Continent to avoid the congestion at the gate…so maybe that is what they are doing. We make it to the side gate, only to discover that apparently Virgin Airways has a deal with Universal to allow a travel package in an hour before resort guests…what the hay? Turned away we go back to the main turnstiles only to discover that we not first anymore in line but a family of 3 (mother and 2 sons) are now there in OUR PLACES).

They see us in our HP shirts and we see them, instant talking points. We strike up conversations about HP and WWofHP touring ideas only to discover they are from a city near my hometown in Colorado. I also find out that they are not staying at one of the BIG 3 Universal Hotels, but a partner hotel and they also get early access into HP…WHAT THE HAY for the 2nd time? Lucky for Universal I learned that they do not get EXPRESS pass with that stay…because someone was going to be really mad if she paid the prices she paid to stay ONSITE just to have someone who stayed budget get the same treatment. I know that sounds tacky and that’s not the way Disney does it…but this is the dark side remember and I am paying for Deluxe for just those reason EXPRESS/EARLY ENTRY.

Just about that time we heard the sound of the water taxi horn, and the next thing we knew the crowd was coming over the bridge at us…6:30 am and my family quickly learned the reason I insisted that we leave by 6 am and walk. I quickly explained to the kids about how to use the ticket machines and where we were headed once we got in the park. From out of nowhere the ticket agents arrive at their spots and start trying to control the masses gathering, sort the lines and give instructions on entering…one of them being make sure your name is written on the back of your ticket (DONE…I learned last trip after being chewed out about writing names on tickets by a ticket taker…we did that last night when we got the tickets). I handed the tickets out to everyone and away we go through the turn stalls. Once everyone was through the gate, I quickly gathered up the tickets, put them away, and pulled out our hotel keys and off we go with all the other crazed HP fans towards the right side of the rope for hotel early entry. We flash our keys and I collect them and once again zip them up for safety. Once past this check point I guess those behind us decided it is okay to run and everyone starts passing us…not to be discouraged I grab Goo’s hand and instruct all to follow at a fastest pace possible with Goo as Jeff begins the grumbling about the rush this is, and in the mist of shooting him my best Malfoy glare for being a grump, I make a near fatal error to my touring plans…

 

[momabaarjo]

Yay! Nothing better to getting up to a quiet house with my coffee in hand and hopping on the DIS to find all sort of juicy updates on your report.

Awww....you make me blush! I so loved all of your updates! I looked forward to them every day too.

It sounds like your first night was wonderful! The pool area at night looks so fun. My kids would have begged to swim the very first possible second too.

Kids and pools....I really wish we would have spent more time when the weather was warm to do that...hmmm that is why we need a summer trip!

The dinner and drinks look awesome and I really want some of that grasshopper pie!

I love mint and chocolate too!

Can't wait to hear about waking the troops on the first full day. I really wonder about AB??

Remember she is my Potter fan!

oh and happy birthday to your son!

He thanks you!

Awesome update!! I'm really happy that your reveal went off so well, and that you made it there okay AND that the kids got to swim on Christmas Day night! Love the movie by the pool, too!!

I have a friend who just got back from WDW and USO/IA and she has talked so much about USO/IA and Harry Potter that I find myself making promises to me to take the family there the next trip. I love the look/feel of the resort you all stayed at!

I still am thinking we need to get Eddie and Jeff to agree and do that 2013 trip! I don't think we will go back to USO until they officially announce the HP expansion and have it built.

Great update! That pool looks absolutely amazing! I can see why the kiddos wanted to go swimming so badly! And dinner looks/sounds amazing! Now, don't update too much while I'm gone, ok?

I hope your little guy has a magical trip! Don't worry I wont post too much! Although I do have a lot finally typed up, but need to get pictures sorted and uploaded...that is the hard part.

Great updates! Looks like dinner was a hit. I know when I was planning on staying over Christmas that was a challenge for me... the "where to have Christmas dinner"

I know...you want it to be special because it is Christmas!

The pool looks fun. I have never done a swim in (not much of a swimmer) but our towns pool does them often and I know people tend to love them.

And.. last but not least... a happy birthday to your ds! I can't believe your labor story!! I envy you... mine were never easy or quick.

Ab and Boo were both easy, not drugs (no time) and from first contraction to birth it was less than 2-3 hours...Goo on the on the other hand is a TOTALLY different story!

Sounds like an absolutely perfect first day. I vote you'll be late to HP :-/ late nights and time zones and such.

It was a pretty perfect day! We made it as you can see...I am a total GENERAL when it comes to messing with my touring plans!

The food at the Christmas buffet looked great!! To think, just days before you weren't sure what you were doing about Christmas dinner. Looks like you made the right choice!

I know...I think we texted back and forth about that prior to the trip. I like the choice I made in the end!

That pool looks amazing!!

Gotta love Dive Ins, especially when it's your favorite movie!

Happy Birthday to your son!! I hope he had a fabulous day!

Great update! Love the dive in!

It was fun...I had only heard about them in other TR...and was not expecting on Sunday night at the RPR. The calendar I saw prior to the trip only had Saturday listed.

Luv the update. Christmas tree obsession is good btw

Happy Birthday to your DS

Love Christmas Trees...

 

[lovethattink]

I've never seen IOA so empty!!! It's good you are experienced there. I don't know that I will ever get to the HP stuff. It scares Anakin too much. We stick to the Seuess area. Hoping to eventually get to Universal studios, but so many things have strobe light effects there. Guess we'll stick to Disney for now.

 

[momabaarjo]

I've never seen IOA so empty!!!

That's because it is 6:20 in the morning...only fools with touring plans are there at that time!

It's good you are experienced there.

Trust me that experience paid off as we spend more days at USO...just watch!

I don't know that I will ever get to the HP stuff. It scares Anakin too much. We stick to the Seuess area. Hoping to eventually get to Universal studios, but so many things have strobe light effects there. Guess we'll stick to Disney for now.

Really the theming of all the shops in Hogsmeade are awesome. So maybe you can take a stroll through there in the daylight sometime. Not a lot of rides for younger ones there...only the hippogriff. The castle itself is very dark inside so I don't think Anakin would like that too much...

Olivander's uses a strobe light for lightning in their show, so that is out!

Jeff likes WDW a lot better, but I like the both for different reasons...I love the thrill rides of USO but the overall park experience has to go to WDW! Both places cater to different types of crowds...as you know!

I am working on a Disney Cruise with him...for July 2013 and then a short stay at WDW...pray for me! He has let it slip that he would like to go back someday...I mentioned the cruise and he said he would rather spend the money and go to Cabo (WAIT FOR IT)....to go FISHING....! My response was, what kind of a vacation is that for me? Well you could lay around on the beach...nope not me I like to GO GO GO and SEE SEE SEE!

 

[MickeyLuvrLauren]

I'm loving your TR so far! I can't wait to hear about WWoHP because I've never gone and I'm a HUGE fan and I would love to go! I'm in!

 

[momabaarjo]

I'm loving your TR so far! I can't wait to hear about WWoHP because I've never gone and I'm a HUGE fan and I would love to go! I'm in!

Glad to have you...we are HUGE FANS too!

 

[lovethattink]

Really the theming of all the shops in Hogsmeade are awesome. So maybe you can take a stroll through there in the daylight sometime. Not a lot of rides for younger ones there...only the hippogriff. The castle itself is very dark inside so I don't think Anakin would like that too much...

Olivander's uses a strobe light for lightning in their show, so that is out!

Jeff likes WDW a lot better, but I like the both for different reasons...I love the thrill rides of USO but the overall park experience has to go to WDW! Both places cater to different types of crowds...as you know!

I am working on a Disney Cruise with him...for July 2013 and then a short stay at WDW...pray for me! He has let it slip that he would like to go back someday...I mentioned the cruise and he said he would rather spend the money and go to Cabo (WAIT FOR IT)....to go FISHING....! My response was, what kind of a vacation is that for me? Well you could lay around on the beach...nope not me I like to GO GO GO and SEE SEE SEE!

Thanks for the heads up!

I can so hear my boys saying the same about Cabo. I think there were fishing excursions on the cruise. We haven't been on a cruise in years, but Disney cruises are awesome!! I would really like to go back soon!