A Whale of a Tale and It's All True, I Swear By My Tattoo!PICS included and DONE

[Mommy2JulietJocelyn]

DH & I with our girls were at the concourse steakhouse too! our ressie was for 430pm. I was taking DD's in the bathroom one at a time to get dressed for MNSSHP and we saw the incredibles family there! You guys were adorable! The food at Concourse was great - I had that butterfinger cheesecake - oh my goodness! I could have sat there eating that forever!
Carol - who had a wonderful time with her 2 princess daughters - Snow White & Tinkerbell

 

[schlepsnort]

WOW! That is just weird! You think about what a big world we live in and yet we manage to bump into people that we 'know' through the boards! How cool is that!

I agree, the desserts at Concourse were just to die for. We've already started planning our ADRs for next November (yeah, we're not too excited!) and Concourse is on the list as a must repeat! We're only repeating 3 places, Crystal Palace (hopefully getting the FIRST seating will improve our experience since it's the only Winnie The Pooh character meal), Chef Mickey's and Concourse Steakhouse!

We did push a lot of magic into only 2 days, that was our biggest mistake but we really did have fun despite the grumpiness of one child and some little things that we really did not let get to us at the time.

I already have our countdown on the fridge for our next trip! I feel like this time I'm going down even more prepared after finally experiencing it once and seeing what we need to do differently (and going for 8 nights helps!!)

Carol

 

[Cass]

I hope you go for longer next year, your boys would like Animal Kingdom, I bet.

Your JJ might be a handful by then, though

 

[schlepsnort]

We are definitely going for longer. With DHs new job he gets two weeks of vacation plus floating holidays. So we are going to be in WDW for 9 days, 8 nights!

We've already planned our itinerary as far as the basics go and have one day dedicated to the Animal Kingdom, I know that Grumpy and Happy will LOVE the boneyard and I think Grumpy will also enjoy Expedition Everest. He is into rollercoasters like Mommy. And hopefully with a slower schedule Grumpy will no longer be Grumpy.

And this time we are including an entire day for just resting at the hotel!

We think back to when we first determined the dates for this past trip and we were all like "oh we can do two parks in two days! Noooo problem!"

Oh what fools were we?!

Since we've been back I've noticed the kids are in a bit of a funk though. No characters show up at meals other than the St.Bernard. I took Happy to the zoo on Saturday and he kept looking for the rides. We rode the tram that goes around the zoo, he did not seem impressed. We may have ruined the kids for any other parks now for life!

 

[pperfectmom]

Wow. I'm amazed that you put so much detail into your TR. It must have taken forever. I haven't had much surfing time the last few days, but made reading about your trip a priority. I think I would have needed to sleep for a week afterwards.

 

[gigi1313]

great trippie!!! glad you enjoyed and learned a lot for next time!!

on our first trip the kids were 4.5 and 2.5yo and we only did MK, and only for one day (from open to close w/some stroller naps)... then we did resort for a day and that was about it... some shopping and back home... it was a perfect "intro" trip... since, like you, we knew there'd be MORE!! LOL!

 

[OhMari]

Read my tag, I talk all the time about our family road trips. I just live north of you up in WI. The day you came home, those storms started in North and South Dakota, came down through MN and Wisconsin and it formed one big huge thunderstorm over the Chicago area. I remember seeing the radar and it has purple and blue, which really means severe weather. What a freak storm, the weatherman, said that kind of storm usually only happens in August.

I like this sentenceAfter missing a toll, sorry IDOT you will receive a check in the mail! So does Chicago Toll both police send you a statement at the end of the year for missing tolls. With those tolls under consruction, it is so hard to be in the correct lane.

What did your white t-shirt say, it looked like a DIS t-shirt.

I liked your conclusion and summary too. You really have to do what works for your family. Sounds like your MK itinerary was a gem, I have a hard time making my husband listen to my itinerary, he is a kind of go and flo person too.

Thanks again for sharing your TR with us.
OhMari

 

[OhMari]

Read my tag, I talk all the time about our family road trips. I just live north of you up in WI. The day you came home, those storms started in North and South Dakota, came down through MN and Wisconsin and it formed one big huge thunderstorm over the Chicago area. I remember seeing the radar and it has purple and blue, which really means severe weather. What a freak storm, the weatherman, said that kind of storm usually only happens in August never at the end of Sept.-October.

I like this sentenceAfter missing a toll, sorry IDOT you will receive a check in the mail! So does Chicago Toll both police send you a statement at the end of the year for missing tolls. With those tolls under consruction, it is so hard to be in the correct lane.

What did your white t-shirt say, it looked like a DIS t-shirt.

I liked your conclusion and summary too. You really have to do what works for your family. Sounds like your MK itinerary was a gem, I have a hard time making my husband listen to my itinerary, he is a kind of go and flo person too.

Thanks again for sharing your TR with us.
OhMari

 

[schlepsnort]

Read my tag, I talk all the time about our family road trips. I just live north of you up in WI. The day you came home, those storms started in North and South Dakota, came down through MN and Wisconsin and it formed one big huge thunderstorm over the Chicago area. I remember seeing the radar and it has purple and blue, which really means severe weather. What a freak storm, the weatherman, said that kind of storm usually only happens in August never at the end of Sept.-October.

I like this sentenceAfter missing a toll, sorry IDOT you will receive a check in the mail! So does Chicago Toll both police send you a statement at the end of the year for missing tolls. With those tolls under consruction, it is so hard to be in the correct lane.

Actually IDOT sent my DH several 'occurrances' with pictures demanding the toll and a penalty fee of $20 for each occurance!!! We went to the offices to dispute the charges because DH did pay the toll. We were told that he just didn't put the coins in correctly so he's guilty, pay the fine or they revoke the registration on the car. It's a racket and it's almost impossible to figure out where you need to be to pay the tolls. Sometimes you figure it out too late and risk an accident getting into the right lane. Just crazy!

What did your white t-shirt say, it looked like a DIS t-shirt.

Actually that was my Joints In Motion Training shirt. I was part of the Joints In Motion team for the Arthritis Foundation in Chicago. I was going to participate in the Disney Marathon a year ago but a month or two into my training a joint in my foot snapped and I had to have surgery and miss the marathon. I swear I'm going to get back into it but of course something always comes up and I can't commit to the training schedule. The shirt was great to wear in the heat though, it's one of the moisture wicking shirts, very comfy!!

I liked your conclusion and summary too. You really have to do what works for your family. Sounds like your MK itinerary was a gem, I have a hard time making my husband listen to my itinerary, he is a kind of go and flo person too.

Thanks again for sharing your TR with us.
OhMari

Thanks for compliment! I really enjoyed writing the report and remembering all that went on during our trip!
I'm hoping that now that DH has seen that there is a method to my madness when it comes to itineraries that our next trip he will listen to me!! Here's hoping!

 

[amarberry]

I just stumbled across your great report. I think that we were on the same flight as you! Was it the TED flight that was suppose to leave at 4:14pm? In fact, I sort of remember seeing a family with three little boys while we were waiting for our flight, so maybe that was you... If it was you, I think that you were just a couple of rows behind us. My DD is a little over 2 with blond curly hair. She had a one piece yellow checked outfit on that day with an orange zip-up coat. Lucky for us (and you, as a fellow passenger!), she slept the entire flight home so she wasn't too horrible while she and I waited 4 hours in baggage claim. Ugh!!! Somehow, my DH lucked out waiting for the stroller upstairs . We've flown a fair amount and I've never experienced anything like that before. We had some friends who were flying home from Orlando the same night, but a couple of hours later. Their plane circled for a couple of hours before having to land in Ohio to refuel!

I guess it's a small world on the DIS!

 

[Martha7]

What an excellently written trip report! Thank you so much! Also, this was the first I had heard of not being allowed to stand in front of a photo spot, while waiting for a parade. I don't recall this ever being discussed before on the boards, but I agree that the ladies could have politely asked you to slide over a bit. It sounds to me as though you did an outstanding job of being organized for the trip. You should be awarded some kind of DIS medal of honor for putting up with the vomit, delays, and rude United staff!

 

[schlepsnort]

What an excellently written trip report! Thank you so much! Also, this was the first I had heard of not being allowed to stand in front of a photo spot, while waiting for a parade. I don't recall this ever being discussed before on the boards, but I agree that the ladies could have politely asked you to slide over a bit. It sounds to me as though you did an outstanding job of being organized for the trip. You should be awarded some kind of DIS medal of honor for putting up with the vomit, delays, and rude United staff!

Thank You!!

And you know, that's true, I've never seen it discussed where people get yelled at for standing in front of the photo spot! It was very surreal. From now on I'll be sure to keep an eye out to make sure I'm not blocking one!

Hmm a medal It could be the Pukey! for putting up with DS vomiting and the Slow Burn for putting up with United. Oh that still ticks me off when I think of it. But it's all good! We are already planning for next November and I've already gotten our ADR's figured out, our daily basic itinerary (such as which park or rest day) and what driving route we will take and where we will stop to rest.

I need help, I'm being uberorganized for Disney!!!

 

[schlepsnort]

I just stumbled across your great report. I think that we were on the same flight as you! Was it the TED flight that was suppose to leave at 4:14pm? In fact, I sort of remember seeing a family with three little boys while we were waiting for our flight, so maybe that was you... If it was you, I think that you were just a couple of rows behind us. My DD is a little over 2 with blond curly hair. She had a one piece yellow checked outfit on that day with an orange zip-up coat. Lucky for us (and you, as a fellow passenger!), she slept the entire flight home so she wasn't too horrible while she and I waited 4 hours in baggage claim. Ugh!!! Somehow, my DH lucked out waiting for the stroller upstairs . We've flown a fair amount and I've never experienced anything like that before. We had some friends who were flying home from Orlando the same night, but a couple of hours later. Their plane circled for a couple of hours before having to land in Ohio to refuel!

I guess it's a small world on the DIS!

YES, that was the same flight! My DH remembers you, the whole night is a blur to me. Just the way United treated us at the gate really stood out. I think your DH was the one that waited in the Jetway for a long time and then came out and joined us and the hundreds of other people at the gate when Evil United Lady yelled at people for being in the jetway.

That was such a crazy night!!

 

[amarberry]

Wow...such a small world. Hehe! That was one memorable flight. Yes...DH was one of the people hanging out in the jetway. He probably had his headphones on him most of the night because he is a books on tape addict. Of course, I somehow managed to get myself stuck in the baggage claim with most of our carryon luggage and a toddler. He said that he knew who you were talking about with the "evil United woman."

So did you hear all of the alarms going off at the Orlando airport? The door alarms kept getting triggered and no one seemed to care. That really made me concerned/mad. I said something to the gate agent in Orlando and she was like "oh well...I'm sure it's nothing". That really makes me feel safe with flying!

 

[Martha7]

Hmm a medal It could be the Pukey! for putting up with DS vomiting and the Slow Burn for putting up with United.

Love it!

I also totally identified with the part about your DH suddenly going "commando" on you and disregarding your carefully planned itinerary. I think it has something to do with them always wanting to be in control. On our last trip, my DH unexpectedly announced (after a few days), that we wouldn't be keeping the majority of my ADR's. He couldn't really take the pace, although we were taking mid-day breaks. On the fourth day or so, he got into a road rage situation on the freeway on the way to BB. When my teenaged Ds told him to take it easy, he freaked out and ended up sulking in a chaise lounge all day at BB. The boys and I enjoyed ourselves anyway, but sometimes I think our WDW trips can be hard on the guys, when they have to follow what we have lined up to do!

 

[tiki23]

Great trip report; thanks!

But what a nightmare at the airport - big kudos to you and your kiddos for handling it so well.