A Very, Very Quick Christmas Trip 12/15-16

[bella01]

Let me start this trip report by saying I normally don't write trip reports. In fact I normally don't post anything but I do come to this site ATLEAST one time per day.
Cast: Me 34 (I thought I was 35 my last b-day Dec. 1st....but my mom figuered out I was 34, Thanks mom!!) Total Disney freak!

DH 36 Love of my life and puts up with the Disney trips.

DS 11 First born son, trying to be a teenager but will always be my baby.

DS 3 Second born son, is totally in love with the Wiggles and Mickey.

Pre-trip: We live in Florida and have been to Disney too many times to count over the past 10 years. I love to visit at Christmas-my favorite time of year. We took the little one to Disney in October for the Halloween party because he has an old video of Mickey at Halloween in Disneyland. And yes that is reason enough for me to plan a trip!! The 3 year old had no idea what Halloween was but the 11 year old was into getting the candy. Well the DH and his softball team were talking about going to a softball tournament on Dec. 16th. Yea for me!! But everyone deceided that it was too close to Christmas and they don't have the money blah, blah blah. After talking to my DH we deceided we really don't have the money (family issues) so I don't think we are going to go Well I kept bringing it up....how much 3 year old DS would love the MVMCP and how I have $100 on my Disney Visa Rewards card. Finally two weeks ago my wonderful DH tells me to call but we are only going to stay one night. OK!!!!! I told him I heard everything was getting sold out but we will see. I called on Tuesday Dec. 7th and they had party tickets for Thursday the 15th SOLD!!!! Then I ask about the value hotels. What??? They still have Florida resident rates available??? So wonderful husband hears this and says "Anything at the Wilderness Lodge?" (See why I love him!! ) And the CM says yes standard room at $155 a night. SOLD!!! Hurry Hurry book the room before the computer changes it!!! YEA!!! So I happily go to work the next day and inform them that I will NOT be in on the 15th and 16th. Ok really I asked for vacation, let me explain....I married for love not money......I need to keep my job So my boss approves my vacation and I walk around happy for the next week. Now I also need to explain something else. Before I had my second child my daily life was totally planned out. I was never at work later than 7:30 and December Disney trips were planned in Febuary. For what ever reason I thought it would be the same after the second one arrived. Well I was WRONG!!!! I don't know what has happened but I can not even seem to get the laundry done. At one point I went and bought us all new socks because I thought something must have happened to the other ones....well if you get all the laundry done and match up the socks......they were all there. Who knew???? So on to the story. I was walking around happy for the next week.....I'm going to Disney!! I'm going to Disney!! I tell everyone.....even people on the elevator. Good morning! How are you? Fine and yes on Thursday we are going to Disney! I know the one girl was just jealous and that is why she was acting like she was talking on her cell phone.
So you would think because I am so excited we would have been all packed, Right? WRONG!! Wednesday night and the suitecase is not even out of the closet. So what do you think I did Wenesday night?? That's right I went to the mall! I put some laundry in the washing machine and headed to the mall. Let me give you a little bit of backstory here. There are two reasons for the rush to the mall. 1--I bought 3 yr. old DS a leap pad set for Christmas....well now it is on sale for like $20 cheaper so I wanted to get the difference back and 2--while at the mall over a month ago I bought some cute little Christmas ornaments for my in-laws from the kids. Well my mom is over one day and looks in the little bags on the counter and tells me how great the ornamnets are and where is hers?? So then she says....mine must be in the closet....so I agree and make a note....have to get mom ornament!!
So off we go to the mall......look there is the ornament place YEA!!!! Well 3 yr old DS sees Santa downstairs....he wants to go see him. What??? No honey...look at the line....we are going to see him at Disney....mom is very tired and does not want to stand in line......why do you need to see Santa? (Just kidding)...... He won't budge......we are going to see Santa. That's ok I tell my 11 yr. old DS.....I am sure he won't want to wait in line and then we can go. Well guess what!!! We waited in line for 30 min's....but he was just thrilled to see Santa and then Santa gave him M&M'...how great is that!!! We finally get on the way home (but not before stopping at Cinnabon!!!) When we get home I just tell myself ....we will pack in the morning.

 

[mom23boys]

Very nice report. And cute too. My 3 yo DS also loves Wiggles and is loving Little Einstien. Even though it is a short trip, I cannot wait to read more.

 

[lookingforward]

I was there for a short visit too! I am impressed with the rate you got at the Wildnerness lodge. I tried but the best I could do with FL discount was 204. Lookingforward to reading more!

 

[bella01]

Thursday December 15th

We woke up around 9:00 and started to get ready to go. I explained to my DH that we will not be taking more than one suitcase. It is absurd to take all those clothes for only two days. (Remember I said that for later in the story) So we are packing and my mom comes by to get Max the dog....I give her the Christmas ornament and she just loves it Finally looks like we are heading out around noon. Fill the car up with gas, stop by the bank, and pick up some lunch......we are on our way!!
I deceide to call and see if they have anything at LTT for dinner they shouldn't be too busy...... ok well that was a waste of cell phone minutes.............
We have a nice trip down and pull up to the Wilderness Lodge. The security girl gives both boys stickers. We pull up and are going to use Valet parking but get out own lugage....we are on a budget and remember I said we are only bringing one suitcase.........well one suitcase, one bag of toys, one laptop bag, one diaper bag, one small cooler....you get the point. We check in and find out our room has bunk beds!! How exciting!!! We go to the room (2020) and we have an amazing view of a retention pond But wait....there is a duck in the pond!!! 3 yr old DS is so excited!!! A Duck A Duck!!! I am so glad we drove 3 hours and paid all this money to see a duck................
Well it is now time to get ready for the party....we are just going to eat at Casey's because I found out earlier that everyone and their mother is eating at LTT tonight. So we all change and I get 3 yr old DS clothes out of the suitecase.......his shirt and overalls are all wet!!!!! Somehow when we were carrying our own luggage up the cooler spilled some water on his clothes. Oh course being the prepared mother that I am.....I had no other clothes for him. No biggie....he can just wear the same clothes...No one will know
So off to the boat ramp. Everything is going great.....We grab one of the free strollers (Thanks DIS boards) and off we go to eat. After we get done eating my DH and 11 yr old DS are going to ride some rides and myself and the 3 yr old DS are going to watch the parade. I head over by Frontierland and it is not crowded at all. I sit down and start talking to a wonderful family in front of me. They tell me that DS can move up as soon as the parade starts Such wonderful people DS and I love the parade and then head over to find the rest of the family. Look no wait for small world.....look no wait for Peter Pan......Meet up with DH and see Tigger DH says he will take 3 yr old DS to see Tigger and I will take 11 yr old DS to get funnel cake Yummy!!! Well it starts to rain. No biggie.....everyone knows I won't melt We eat our funnel cake and get back to DH. At this point it starts to POUR!!!!!! We hang out for a little bit and the rain lets up but we are pretty tired so we head back to the hotel. What a wonderful day and wonderful party!!!!

 

[bella01]

Friday December 16th

We wake up around 10:15. What 10:15!! We have to check out at 11!!!! So we round all the stuff up and run out to our car. By this point it was 11:15 but I did not see security running after us so I guess it was ok. The plan was to go to MGM so 11 yr old DS can see the Narnia show and then head over to DTD and then head home. First we need to eat. DH deceide to head over to Crossroads for breakfeast at Perkins. Food was good. Now I have to throw in a tidbit about myself and my children. We are clumsy. And when I say clumsy....I mean very clumsy. Well as we are walking out of Perkins my 11 yr old DS is walking and falls off the curb. So of course that starts the day off with a chuckle We load up into the car and talk about what to do first. Because we were right by DTD we go there. We go to Basin. My husband is into baths so we stock up on some bath balls. If you have never been to this store....you have to go. You could spend all day in the store, just remember to check your nose when you walk out....we always end up with white powder on ours. We then head to team mickey..nothing caught our eye. We then walk over to Pin Traders. I had already told my DH that I wanted a Pin Trading book. Yes I do collect pins, but I only collect the ones I like and I do not wear them around because I do not trade. I also have a rule that I or my 11 yr old DS will not get a pin unless it is for something or place we have been. Example....we will not get a pin for the CR until we have stayed there. We will not get a pin for Soarin until we have rode the ride. Odd I know but what can I say So I point out the Pin book that I want and then tell DH I will take DS to Once upon a toy. DH came back with a bag so I think I will be getting my Pin book for Christmas We then head to World of Disney. DH takes 11 yr old DS to Lego land. I get myself and 3 yr old DS sweatshirts, some Christmas ornaments, mom a key ring and something else I can't rememeber. I get ready to check out. The place is PACKED!! I finally check out and after using my Disney rewards it was $1.44 total! I love a great deal!!
On the way back to the car it looks like husband and 11 yr old DS want to go home. I get pretty upset exchange a few words with DH and then we head to the MK. I have to admit we end up having a great time. We rode Buzz and the Tomorrow land transit. Believe it or not my DH got 999,999 on Buzz. We took a picture and I will try to post them next. At this point it is going on 5:30 so we decide to head home. Traffic was not bad at all.
Another note. If you are coming east on I-4 and you get off on exit 118 and go left....there is no bathroom...there is really nothing for quite some time. 11 yr old DS tells us that he has to go and can not wait. We ended up pulling over and he went to the bushes......sorry if that offends some but we had no choice. Well walking back to the car...he fell. Of course me and DH waited to make sure he was ok....then we laughed.

Over all this was a great trip. 3 yr old loved it. My mother has said she wants to go to the Flower and Garden show at Epcot and I really want to go to Vero Beach for 11 yr old DS spring break. But I think now that 3 yr old DS is getting bigger we can try to start going other places. Maybe someplace with snow for next New year's..............

 

[bella01]

Looking Forward---Not sure about the Florida rate we got. When we went in October I booked over a month in advance and the cheapest I could get at the Wilderness was $224. I don't think there is any sure way to get the discounts.
Mom23boys--DS is getting into the Little Eisteins too. Hoping Santa brings their new video for Christmas!!

 

[swankybeth]

Thanks for sharing your report, sounds like you managed to squeeze a lot of magic into a short trip!

 

[manning]

No, don't go where there is snow. Your son will never be able to stay on his feet!!

 

[bella01]

My son is insisting that he wants to snowboard!! Not sure if you guys remmeber but a long time ago they had ice skating at DTD. Well let's just say that I fell and broke my elbow!!! I could just go on and on................