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

[reelmom]

I would love to go on a Disney Cruise also. But I am not one to relax so I don't know if I would enjoy it as much as I like going to Disney World. I would rather go, go, go then sit by a pool and relax. We have planned out many trips to other destinations but always end up at Disney. Kids grow too fast and I enjoy making our memories at Disney.

 

[FosterA]

Tammie, I just love your updates!
The final reveal was awesome. I think AB might have know at ONE TIME OR ANOTHER but probably went back and forth on what she thought. I bet she still thought it was a ski trip when you were leaving your house. I bet she knew "something" was going to happen with Disney/Harry/Seaworld but probably didn't know exactly when???
Who knows....anyhoo....great reveal!

That driver ya'll got sounded great. So neat to be picked right up at the airport. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[Sam33]

I was on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE time reading this! So glad I was late joining in because waiting for each post would have been hard! I don't like suspense!
Great TR so far!

 

[petals]

That pain in the ear thing I can relate to. There was tears when we were landing as well it's so bad. I don't think anything works for it really.

Also that tree in MCO I got so excited when I saw that because totally was not expecting the airport to have christmas decorations for some reason

 

[MrsFerrell]

Loving your trip so far. I'm pricing travel from airport to Disney now. Is there anyway you can message me Tony's info/prices or share it on here? Thanks so much

 

[swwake]

I am finally caught up! I loved the reveal! And I recognized the Hammond's candy canes

 

[momabaarjo]

Loving your trip so far. I'm pricing travel from airport to Disney now. Is there anyway you can message me Tony's info/prices or share it on here? Thanks so much

I send you a private message... we loved Tony!

 

[KP's Mom]

Hi - great report so far. I am really enjoying it.
Would you please send me Tony's contact info. Thanks and keep writing that report.

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Love all the reveal stuff Tammie.

I have used the Multi wrapped present on my brother before! 3 years ago actually when he got his Ipod. Mom told me to wrap it crazy. So I wrapped, put it inside a bent up shoe box with a couple of other random little wrapped boxes, then a lipton tea box, and then like 4 more just random packing boxes. He got to the Lipton tea box and was sooooo confused! HE was sooo mad.

Excited to hear more!

 

[annmarieda]

Just a little ramblings today...cause I have the Disney Blues...thinking that a month ago we were watching Grinchmas at this time. So I have spent today looking at Disneyland...Cars opens this summer and I know Goo would love that, plus my mom has been hinting at a road trip in July (wondering if I could talk her into that) with the kids, how crazy would it be to do WDW and DL within 6 months of each other?

Part of me would love to go back to WDW as a family, but the other part of me wants to explore other places on this globe...but then I think about our trip and what we did not accomplish that it would be so much fun...so I started looking at cruises. On my bucket list is a cruise and the Disney ones look like so much fun but Christmas cruises are WAY out of my price range for next Christmas...so guess I will just have to do family drama!

Then I think about the furniture I need to replace this summer and the cabin expansion...but my new car has been pushed back another year (Jeff bought a new work truck yesterday...actually just added 3 more years onto his current financing...he needed and ended up STEALING basically a 2012).

First, sounds like your driver to Orlando was awesome

And, I have been looking at DL too... then wonder if it would be crazy to go there after just going to WDW AND planning a fall trip. I also battle with the cost. We really need to do some things around this house... but my kids will not be here for long. I am finding the days go by faster and faster and soon I will only have one of my 4 kids still at home. (I know... maybe ds will live with us till he is 40.. but oldest ds will be gone for good within the next year or so and oldest dd is off and married) Course, my fall trip will not be about the kids... well, not in the sense of "while they are young". So maybe I am just making up excuses in order to go to Disney

 

[momabaarjo]

I am finally caught up! I loved the reveal! And I recognized the Hammond's candy canes

Hmmm...now where would you have seen those candy canes!

Hi - great report so far. I am really enjoying it.
Would you please send me Tony's contact info. Thanks and keep writing that report.

I sent you a PM!

Love all the reveal stuff Tammie.

I have used the Multi wrapped present on my brother before! 3 years ago actually when he got his Ipod. Mom told me to wrap it crazy. So I wrapped, put it inside a bent up shoe box with a couple of other random little wrapped boxes, then a lipton tea box, and then like 4 more just random packing boxes. He got to the Lipton tea box and was sooooo confused! HE was sooo mad.

Excited to hear more!

I loved doing it...I just have a little evil in me! Well...your mom told you to wrap it crazy so it was her fault....

First, sounds like your driver to Orlando was awesome

He was, and I would not use ME if Tony is an option!

And, I have been looking at DL too... then wonder if it would be crazy to go there after just going to WDW AND planning a fall trip. I also battle with the cost. We really need to do some things around this house... but my kids will not be here for long. I am finding the days go by faster and faster and soon I will only have one of my 4 kids still at home. (I know... maybe ds will live with us till he is 40.. but oldest ds will be gone for good within the next year or so and oldest dd is off and married) Course, my fall trip will not be about the kids... well, not in the sense of "while they are young". So maybe I am just making up excuses in order to go to Disney

You saw where my mind was today...no excuses needed with me...we are such enablers for each other. While going back to WDW is not high on my trip list anymore, I would love to go back...

Ab really wants a vacation on the beach and a cruise...we talked about Cabo, but that really is not a kids place...hmmm, I like my thinking, its all Ab's fault my mind wandered today and I bought that book!

 

[momabaarjo]

I would love to go on a Disney Cruise also. But I am not one to relax so I don't know if I would enjoy it as much as I like going to Disney World. I would rather go, go, go then sit by a pool and relax. We have planned out many trips to other destinations but always end up at Disney. Kids grow too fast and I enjoy making our memories at Disney.

Ab wants a vacation on a REAL beach...and a cruise. She is a laid back kinda girl and would love to sit on a beach somewhere and read. I like both going and relaxing...so many places so little $$$$.

Tammie, I just love your updates!
The final reveal was awesome. I think AB might have know at ONE TIME OR ANOTHER but probably went back and forth on what she thought. I bet she still thought it was a ski trip when you were leaving your house. I bet she knew "something" was going to happen with Disney/Harry/Seaworld but probably didn't know exactly when???
Who knows....anyhoo....great reveal!

That driver ya'll got sounded great. So neat to be picked right up at the airport. Can't wait to hear more!

She is a funny one...you never know what she is thinking or how she is going to react...on good thing is that she smiled for 2 weeks...

I was on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE time reading this! So glad I was late joining in because waiting for each post would have been hard! I don't like suspense!
Great TR so far!

Normally, I don't either...but this has been fun cause I know the outcome and I get to string others along. So glad you are joinining in!

That pain in the ear thing I can relate to. There was tears when we were landing as well it's so bad. I don't think anything works for it really.


I never have traveled on airplanes with little ones so this was a first for me...next time I will know and find better solutions.

Also that tree in MCO I got so excited when I saw that because totally was not expecting the airport to have christmas decorations for some reason

Yours was the first TR that I remember having the tree...I kind of became tree obsessed thanks to you!

 

[momabaarjo]

From Snow to Palm Trees in 8 Hours...Paradise!

Boo spots...

​

and Ab spots a tower peaking over a billboard in the distance…could it be? Tony confirms, yes that is Hogwart’s and a smile comes over her face that I had not seen for months along with a twinkle in her eyes. This has been a real rough year for Ab at school, and to see her smile made the entire trip worth it at that moment. A few minutes later, less than 45 minutes since we stepped off plane we were pulling up to what Boo called "Paradise" and Goo asks if we are in Hawaii and not Florida...

the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal (RPR).


Before I know it the kids are out of the van taking in the sunshine...Ab makes a comment that 8 hours ago it was snow and now it is palm trees! They decide they need to take a picture of them in their ski hats, because it does snow at Christmas right?

Looks like Boo is strangling Goo in this picture...I think he had enough of his little brother by this time!

Jeff, Tony and the attendant quickly load our things onto a cart...we say our goodbyes to Tony until Wednesday and are whisked inside!

Having stayed at the RPR before, it felt almost like coming home again. I love this hotel and am excited to show the kids the resort! I quickly head to the front deck to check in, while Jeff and the kids check out the fountain courtyard and then the Christmas cookies and punch near the front desk. It does not take long and we are headed for our room...an hour after landing!

Our room was located on the front side of the resort, 6th floor...at the bend, the tower closest to the theme parks (translation a few less steps if we walk, but a long ways from the water taxi).

You really could not tell that this was the front of the hotel because of all the foliage you could not see roads or cars! You could see the edge of City Walk above the palm trees. I was pretty happy with the location. It would have been great to have a theme park or pool view...but really how much time do you spend staring out the window? Here is the view...

Now the room...

I love the rooms, they are themed enough so that you don't feel totally like in atypical sterile hotel room but not over done! Having about 90 minutes before our dinner reservations, we unpack and get settled. I am usually not an unpacker, but since we will be staying 5 nights here and there are 5 people, we had to be organized. By the time I am through the kids are antsy and ready to check out the resort. Which if fine with me, because I have to pick up our theme park tickets at the concierge desk and I would like to look around more too. So we head back down stairs and while I pick up the tickets, they look around some more at the lobby. It does not take me too long to get the tickets (already done this on a prior trip so I knew what I was doing...armed with my confirmation number and credit card ready for the computer) and then kids want to go and check out....

 

[petals]

Yours was the first TR that I remember having the tree...I kind of became tree obsessed thanks to you!

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.

 

[swwake]

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!

 

[shocky5]

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!

 

[annmarieda]

"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.

 

[lovethattink]

Great update. And I'm hanging again?!

The rooms look great!

 

[pinkxray]

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.

 

[Leger13]

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