The cast of characters: (D27, S16, D13, S12, S8, S7 and me, mom, Old)
We are a nontraditional family.....we stand out....My husband and I adopted six children of another race. DH was unable to make trip due to recent surgery...therefore D27 stood in to help with kids.
The kids aren't aware of this vacation...they only knew that we were going on a day trip.....We wake them at 3:30 to get to the airport....Plane leaves at 6:30... I have a number of special needs children and the night before I call TSA to find out if I need to speak with anyone re: the amount of liquids I will be carrying with me.....all medications....many bottles....Also....cans of pediasure for S7, who is also in leg braces.... I am assured there is no problem. Okay...I feel better already. (don't be fooled)..
Checkin goes fairly smooth...then we hit security.... I put my bag through the machine and, as I knew...it went off....So I am being told that I need to step to the right.....Meanwhile...a security person is yelling at everyone about my 7 year old who is just standing there waiting to go through...She screams "nobody touch him....stand back"... I come back around...perhaps I can help...."Would you like me to take his shoes or braces off"...."is there a problem I can help you with"...."No...stand back" "people hide bombs in leg braces"....Meanwhile I am being called for a pat-down...They tell me I must have this done or I won't be flying today....Meanwhile my son thinks his mother planted a bomb in his braces..(I think this heightened security is a good thing.....but I think this particular person is out of control)..They are standing and calling for this little boys' mother.....They still don't realize that I am the mother....My child is Black.....I am not....This is not computing in their minds. My D27 goes with my S7 while I have my pat down....Meanwhile when I return to my child they are running a machine over his braces and checking his hands for residue..... Now, this poor kid is setting off alarms all over the place....He has a tube in his stomach for feedings....is in braces....and has a speech impediment where no one is going to understand much of what he says. Now, why I ask did I call TSA the night before and try to have this taken care of....Luckily, there isn't much that phases this particular child...He was amused at all the attention....I was not!
So off we go...I really wanted a nonstop...but that wasn't happening...so we were off to North Carolina first. Not too bad....Really could have used more than pretzels at that hour but I did put snacks in the kids bags to hold them over....
We realize at this point that S7 has forgotten his backpack which contains his gameboy, his snacks.....very picky eater.....and he was the keeper of the family toothbrushes. Okay...I can deal....toothbrushes are cheap....It could be worse.
There was no time to catch a bite to eat....Our connection was in 15 minutes and they were already boarding when we arrived.
We had the magical express which was great....Caught our bus...and we were off to All Star Sports.... We arrived about 12:30.
This was our second time staying on site...The first time was at a moderate....Port Orleans Riverside....This time I requested a preferred room...I'm glad I did....We were nice and close to the pool, bus, and food. I really liked this place....There were many groups in and out..Basketball teams, Pop Warner, International Wheelchair Rugby teams. Wheelchair race teams...etc.
We were on the dining plan and reservations were made....Tonite we would be off to Chef Mickeys. It was S12 birthday and I wanted to see if they would do anything for him. We decided to hang at the resort until our luggage arrived at about 3:00. Dinner reservations were for 5:00.
Kids enjoyed the bus and monorail ride to the Contemporary Resort....Dinner was wonderful....Really a nice buffet for both adults and children....Dessert table well stocked with many different options. Kids had make your own sundae with many toppings including gummy bears, worms, etc.
Characters were all over the place during the dinner....My son was given a cupcake with a candle and all the characters came over seperately for pictures. It was hard to tell if D12 was embarrassed or happy.....He had a strange look on his face....
We decided to head over to MGM for a short time. Went on a few rides and decided to head back to the resort...Weather was great...nice and warm during the day and sweatshirt weather at night.. Kids grabbed a snack and filled their mugs up....Tried to have everyone in bed by 10:30...
Stay tuned..more to come!
We are a nontraditional family.....we stand out....My husband and I adopted six children of another race. DH was unable to make trip due to recent surgery...therefore D27 stood in to help with kids.
The kids aren't aware of this vacation...they only knew that we were going on a day trip.....We wake them at 3:30 to get to the airport....Plane leaves at 6:30... I have a number of special needs children and the night before I call TSA to find out if I need to speak with anyone re: the amount of liquids I will be carrying with me.....all medications....many bottles....Also....cans of pediasure for S7, who is also in leg braces.... I am assured there is no problem. Okay...I feel better already. (don't be fooled)..
Checkin goes fairly smooth...then we hit security.... I put my bag through the machine and, as I knew...it went off....So I am being told that I need to step to the right.....Meanwhile...a security person is yelling at everyone about my 7 year old who is just standing there waiting to go through...She screams "nobody touch him....stand back"... I come back around...perhaps I can help...."Would you like me to take his shoes or braces off"...."is there a problem I can help you with"...."No...stand back" "people hide bombs in leg braces"....Meanwhile I am being called for a pat-down...They tell me I must have this done or I won't be flying today....Meanwhile my son thinks his mother planted a bomb in his braces..(I think this heightened security is a good thing.....but I think this particular person is out of control)..They are standing and calling for this little boys' mother.....They still don't realize that I am the mother....My child is Black.....I am not....This is not computing in their minds. My D27 goes with my S7 while I have my pat down....Meanwhile when I return to my child they are running a machine over his braces and checking his hands for residue..... Now, this poor kid is setting off alarms all over the place....He has a tube in his stomach for feedings....is in braces....and has a speech impediment where no one is going to understand much of what he says. Now, why I ask did I call TSA the night before and try to have this taken care of....Luckily, there isn't much that phases this particular child...He was amused at all the attention....I was not!
So off we go...I really wanted a nonstop...but that wasn't happening...so we were off to North Carolina first. Not too bad....Really could have used more than pretzels at that hour but I did put snacks in the kids bags to hold them over....
We realize at this point that S7 has forgotten his backpack which contains his gameboy, his snacks.....very picky eater.....and he was the keeper of the family toothbrushes. Okay...I can deal....toothbrushes are cheap....It could be worse.
There was no time to catch a bite to eat....Our connection was in 15 minutes and they were already boarding when we arrived.
We had the magical express which was great....Caught our bus...and we were off to All Star Sports.... We arrived about 12:30.
This was our second time staying on site...The first time was at a moderate....Port Orleans Riverside....This time I requested a preferred room...I'm glad I did....We were nice and close to the pool, bus, and food. I really liked this place....There were many groups in and out..Basketball teams, Pop Warner, International Wheelchair Rugby teams. Wheelchair race teams...etc.
We were on the dining plan and reservations were made....Tonite we would be off to Chef Mickeys. It was S12 birthday and I wanted to see if they would do anything for him. We decided to hang at the resort until our luggage arrived at about 3:00. Dinner reservations were for 5:00.
Kids enjoyed the bus and monorail ride to the Contemporary Resort....Dinner was wonderful....Really a nice buffet for both adults and children....Dessert table well stocked with many different options. Kids had make your own sundae with many toppings including gummy bears, worms, etc.
Characters were all over the place during the dinner....My son was given a cupcake with a candle and all the characters came over seperately for pictures. It was hard to tell if D12 was embarrassed or happy.....He had a strange look on his face....
We decided to head over to MGM for a short time. Went on a few rides and decided to head back to the resort...Weather was great...nice and warm during the day and sweatshirt weather at night.. Kids grabbed a snack and filled their mugs up....Tried to have everyone in bed by 10:30...
Stay tuned..more to come!
