Bouncy Bouncy Fun Fun Fun! August '17 PTR

[ghtx]

Definitely lots of character time! I'm hoping Ryann will still be taking naps come August so perhaps we'll take a break back at the resort. She's not one for stroller naps - although maybe if she's tired enough... - but is there anywhere air conditioned where strollers can go?

The baby care centers in each theme park are great spots. I am pretty sure that strollers would be allowed inside.

 

[heathsf]

Really stores and restaurants are your best bets for any prolonged periods, though WS has other options. Casey was never a stroller sleeper either and Disney never changed that. It was back to the room for us

I'm thinking we'll have to go back to the room too. I think DH would like that option for himself as well Maybe I'll let them go back together for a nap and I can enjoy some solo park time

The baby care centers in each theme park are great spots. I am pretty sure that strollers would be allowed inside.

Good idea! In Disneyland we had to park the stroller outside but maybe WDW is different.

 

[SimplyGoofy]

Heather, I'm here! I'm so thrilled that you're back on the DIS, too!

I'm so excited that you're heading to Disney with Ryann! I'm sure she'll LOVE it, just like her mom!

You picked some great ADRs for a trip with a young one - Garden Grill gets raves for their character interaction (and the food's pretty good, too!) and I LOVE Be Our Guest! The Crystal Palace breakfast is one of my favorites so I've never been there for dinner, but the Pooh characters are always great!

I look forward to hearing more about your plans!

 

[evre13]

I'll be there in August, too -- but not with a baby! I'm going down with some girlfriends. Naps may be essential, though!

 

[cypresstxmouse]

on board.
Disney is hot in August, but worth it.

 

[heathsf]

Chapter 3
In Which I Go to Nebraska While Waiting for August to Come

I'm gonna help pass the time until Disney by sticking a mini TR in here for my trip to Omaha last weekend. A very close childhood friend was getting married and I couldn't imagine missing his wedding, so I trekked out to NEBRASKA with some other friends, and left DH and DD home. It was my first time being away from her for a weekend and I was a wreck over it. I was away for just a tad longer than 48 hours.

I flew out of Newark on the smallest plane I had ever been on. I was kind of freaking out over how teeny it was.

It was a 50 passenger plane and when I boarded and got my first look inside I actually gasped in horror. I knew there was two seats on one side of the plan and one seat on the other but when I was walking down the "aisle" (if you can even call it that! It was too small for a beverage cart to fit) is when the claustrophobia actually hit me.

This is actually the whole width of the plane. I hit my head getting into my seat. All carry-on suitcases (including mine) had to be gate checked because it was too big to fit in an overhead compartment. Takeoff was a little rough because I felt every single little movement on this tiny plane. It was like comparing the movement in a little speedboat to a large cruise ship. Once we leveled off at cruising altitude I finally relaxed and actually enjoyed having my one seat all to myself with no other passengers in my row. But that doesn't mean I wasn't super relieved to touch down in Omaha three hours later.

The airport was really small too. We landed at 7pm local time and the only other people we saw in the airport were the passengers from our flight. The rest of the airport was literally empty which was so crazy. We weren't expecting to make it to the rehearsal dinner but we did, which was a nice start to the trip.

The wedding was the next evening at 5 so I had half a day to explore Omaha a little bit. We walked to the Old Market which was completely empty since it was a Sunday morning. Coming from a New York City suburb, it was so bizarre to be walking through the largest city in the state and not see any cars driving by at all as we crossed through major intersections.

We grabbed breakfast at a small diner and kept exploring. Our waitress at the diner told us there was a mall with some outdoor slides that were fun so we set out to find them. It took us a few more minutes than it should have but we found them!

This was so much fun. I definitely ran up those stairs and went down the slide more than once...

We explored a little bit more.

I had really wanted to walk to this bridge about a mile away where Nebraska meets Iowa but one of the girls I was with didn't want to make the walk and I was starting to feel a really awful migraine coming on so we decided to skip it and go back to the room to relax before the wedding.

About an hour before the wedding we were picked up by this cute trolley to travel to the ceremony location. We had a really great time but as much fun as it was, by the end of the night I was ready to look ahead to my flight home to DD.

I got a kick out of the "Nebraska" shaped chocolate at the wedding.

The next morning I woke up early and didn't want to be stuck in the room waiting for everyone else to wake up. I decided to venture out of the hotel at around 6:30 am to walk to the Iowa/Nebraska border. I stopped at the front desk to ask the receptionist if it was safe for me to walk around alone in the city at this hour. She assured me that it was and that by the time I reached the walking path it would be crowded with walkers and joggers. So off I went.

To see Sioux City and Kansas City on a highway sign was so surreal to me.

Okay, I've reached the walking path. But where are all the people?

Peeeeooopppleee.... Where aaaareeee yooouuuuuuu??

Nope, just a bridge.

Maybe the people were on the bridge?

Nope, no people here.

To be honest, I did see a total of four people while I was walking to the bridge and a total of one other person on the bridge besides me. She was riding her bike across and was gone in a few seconds. I spent about 15-20 minutes on the bridge and had it to myself the whole rest of the time. It was amazing. I didn't have to feel embarrassed while having a photoshoot all by my lonesome.

Yup, I layed down. Like, completely down. There was no one around to judge me!

I took way more selfies than this but I'll spare you.

It was such a beautiful morning. And the quiet and tranquility just added to the beauty.

By the time I returned to the hotel from my almost 3 mile walk, it was time for breakfast and to catch our shuttle back to the airport. This was the shortest trip I'd ever taken by plane and even though it went by really quickly, I was ready to return home to DD.

I hope you enjoyed my little non-Disney getaway. Anyone from the Omaha area reading this?


​

 

[heathsf]

Heather, I'm here! I'm so thrilled that you're back on the DIS, too!

I'm so excited that you're heading to Disney with Ryann! I'm sure she'll LOVE it, just like her mom!

You picked some great ADRs for a trip with a young one - Garden Grill gets raves for their character interaction (and the food's pretty good, too!) and I LOVE Be Our Guest! The Crystal Palace breakfast is one of my favorites so I've never been there for dinner, but the Pooh characters are always great!

I look forward to hearing more about your plans!

Thanks! I'm so glad you're back too! I checked on your thread when I first made my grand return to the boards and was disappointed you had disappeared like me! I'm glad you're back now (and with such good news to share!).

I'm pretty sure you're right that Ryann will love WDW like her mama I feel bad even talking about it anymore with her because she gets so excited and thinks we're going right now!

I'll be there in August, too -- but not with a baby! I'm going down with some girlfriends. Naps may be essential, though!

Haha! Stroller naps? Where are you staying?

on board.
Disney is hot in August, but worth it.

Agreed!

 

[kastoney]

Looks like you had a fun weekend in Omaha. I went there a few years back for work and enjoyed the city and the market area. We stayed on the Iowa side at one of the casinos which was fun. Though I know how hard it is to leave them for the first time.

I have to go to St. Louis for work a lot and take that same kind of plane. It is definitely a caustrophobia nightmare.

 

[oceanmarina]

Cute mini trip report! I would have been nervous about a plane that small too. (The smallest I usually go on ins the 2by-2 seater that seats 100 on JetBlue, the Embraair 190). Just curious, Did they coffee / beverage service on your flight? (You mentioned the aisle was too small to get the cart down the middle - wow that's small!)

 

[ariane37]

So cool standing where Iowa and Nebraska meet! I find little things like that so neat I also understand missing DD after only 2 days. It gets easier to leave them as they get older but we left Ricky with my MIL for 2 nights when he was 4 months old and I was a wreck like 9 hours into it
Ugh that plane! I took the same size plane from Westchester to Atlanta last summer and I almost turned and walked out when I saw how small it was inside. It was also LOUD the whole flight I'll take my bigger going-to-Orlando planes, thanks!

 

[heathsf]

Looks like you had a fun weekend in Omaha. I went there a few years back for work and enjoyed the city and the market area. We stayed on the Iowa side at one of the casinos which was fun. Though I know how hard it is to leave them for the first time.

I have to go to St. Louis for work a lot and take that same kind of plane. It is definitely a caustrophobia nightmare.

We talked about going to one of the casinos but there just wasn't time. At least I know the next plane I'm on will be bigger and Disney-bound!

Cute mini trip report! I would have been nervous about a plane that small too. (The smallest I usually go on ins the 2by-2 seater that seats 100 on JetBlue, the Embraair 190). Just curious, Did they coffee / beverage service on your flight? (You mentioned the aisle was too small to get the cart down the middle - wow that's small!)

They had non-alcoholic beverage service. There was one stewardess for the whole plane and she would walk up to a row, ask what they wanted to drink, walk to the front of the plane to get it, and then walk back up the aisle to bring the drink to the passenger. Then she'd ask the next row what they wanted, go back to the front of the plane to get it, and walk back to the passengers with the drink. She was getting a lot of exercise!

So cool standing where Iowa and Nebraska meet! I find little things like that so neat I also understand missing DD after only 2 days. It gets easier to leave them as they get older but we left Ricky with my MIL for 2 nights when he was 4 months old and I was a wreck like 9 hours into it
Ugh that plane! I took the same size plane from Westchester to Atlanta last summer and I almost turned and walked out when I saw how small it was inside. It was also LOUD the whole flight I'll take my bigger going-to-Orlando planes, thanks!

I'll take the same, please!
Iowa and Nebraska are two states I didn't think I'd be visiting anytime soon, so it's pretty cool to say I went there, at least.
Ugh, leaving Ricky at 4 months old must have been SO hard. I don't think I would've been able to do it.

 

[SimplyGoofy]

I meant to respond about your Omaha trip earlier, but you know how that goes...

Although I'm not from Omaha, I've been there quite a few times as I live in the state right next door (yay, Iowa!). Grant lived in Omaha for a few years and still has friends there - I'll have to request visiting those awesome slides the next time we visit.

If you thought the Omaha airport was small, I'd hate to see what you think of the Des Moines airport! My parents live in western Iowa, so we would fly out of either Omaha or Des Moines depending on the price or timing of flights. Omaha was often the airport of choice as it's bigger (really!) and has many more options for both flights and dining. I don't think Omaha has many evening flights (Des Moines certainly doesn't!) so it likely seemed pretty quiet at that time of day.

Although your plane was small, I can do you one better! I had a flight last year from Denver to western Nebraska, and it was only one seat on each side (and I believe 12 seats total?!). Not only did we not have beverage service, we didn't even have a flight attendant! Only two pilots! Thankfully, I don't have issues flying so I survived... but I felt bad for my coworker who has some flight anxiety!

I'm not surprised that the Old Market was quiet on Sunday morning - I would guess activity picked up in the afternoon once the church crowds were free. I'm glad you went to the Old Market, though, as it's a really fun area!

Your early-morning walk looks lovely! I'm glad you were able to "visit" Iowa on your trip! If you're ever back in this neck of the woods, you'll have to let me know!

 

[heathsf]

I'll have to request visiting those awesome slides the next time we visit.

Yes!

If you thought the Omaha airport was small, I'd hate to see what you think of the Des Moines airport!

I did love how quick and easy it was to check in and get through security though! It was like a 5 minute process!

I had a flight last year from Denver to western Nebraska, and it was only one seat on each side (and I believe 12 seats total?!). Not only did we not have beverage service, we didn't even have a flight attendant! Only two pilots!

I would not have liked that. Nope.

I'm glad you went to the Old Market, though, as it's a really fun area!

It was super cute. The rehearsal dinner was at a brewery and I would have liked to had time to walk around that evening afterwards because it was so pretty and quaint.

I'm glad you were able to "visit" Iowa on your trip! If you're ever back in this neck of the woods, you'll have to let me know!

Haha! My friend is moving to Omaha so it's not out of the question for me to go back at some point, although it probably won't be for a few years at least...

 

[heathsf]

So with 108 days to go, I finally decided on my countdown activity. I wanted it to be very visual so that DD may actually understand that the trip is getting closer and closer. I think at this point she has just stopped believing me that we are going to Disney because she keeps thinking we're going *now* and then we don't go...

I'm going to make a countdown paper chain and we'll remove one link each day. This way she'll hopefully understand when the trip is getting closer. Or maybe she won't, but it will still be fun for me! I want to count down from 100 days so I better get started on making it!

DD is obsessed with Toy Story at the moment. So much so that DH asked if it was too late to change the theme of her birthday party from Winnie the Pooh to Toy Story. Unfortunately it is, but she still loves Winnie the Pooh too so it will be fine. I was trying to see if there is any place in WDW to meet Jessie but it seems that she used to meet in Frontierland but doesn't anymore. Perhaps when Toy Story Land opens in DHS they will bring her back.

In other trip news, I officially added the dining plan the other day. I also moved around a few ADRs because after reading about the Pandora previews, I want to make sure I leave the option of visiting AK more than once for Rope Drop. I also wasn't sure if we would go to 1900 Park Fare for breakfast but it seems there will be allergy options for DD and since she loves Mary Poppins, I want to make sure we do it.

Speaking of allergies, I'm looking for some TRs to follow that include dining with allergies. If you're writing one or know of any, please point me in that direction! Thanks!

That's all for now. I'll come back with pictures of the countdown chain (unless it's a disaster)

 

[glennbo123]

Although I'm not from Omaha, I've been there quite a few times as I live in the state right next door (yay, Iowa!).

What part of Iowa Jenny? I've been traveling to DesMoines a fair bit lately.

Speaking of allergies, I'm looking for some TRs to follow that include dining with allergies. If you're writing one or know of any, please point me in that direction! Thanks!

My wife can't handle gluten and my oldest daughter is allergic to peas. My TRs occasionally mention it, but are not written from the angle of "for the allergy planner". Most Disney restaurants are super in regards to working with you on your food restrictions. Oh, and my wife was in heaven when discovering Erin McKenna's Baker in Disney Springs.

 

[SimplyGoofy]

What part of Iowa Jenny? I've been traveling to DesMoines a fair bit lately.

You're kidding! I actually live in Des Moines (technically, one of the suburbs, but Des Moines is small enough that it's basically the same thing!) so you'll have to let me know the next time you're visiting! I can recommend a boatload of restaurants and things to do. I travel quite a bit for work myself, but if we happen to be in town at the same time we'd have to try for a non-Disney DISmeet!

 

[Marloes]

I'm following your story. Love to read and see some (non)disney things, but real live americain way of living

 

[glennbo123]

You're kidding! I actually live in Des Moines (technically, one of the suburbs, but Des Moines is small enough that it's basically the same thing!) so you'll have to let me know the next time you're visiting! I can recommend a boatload of restaurants and things to do. I travel quite a bit for work myself, but if we happen to be in town at the same time we'd have to try for a non-Disney DISmeet!

Will do!

Sorry to highjack your thread Heather. It isn't like either SimplyGoofy and I could have made this discovery on our own threads!

 

[imBryan]

DD is obsessed with Toy Story at the moment. So much so that DH asked if it was too late to change the theme of her birthday party from Winnie the Pooh to Toy Story. Unfortunately it is, but she still loves Winnie the Pooh too so it will be fine. I was trying to see if there is any place in WDW to meet Jessie but it seems that she used to meet in Frontierland but doesn't anymore. Perhaps when Toy Story Land opens in DHS they will bring her back.

Yeah the only place I ever saw Jessie as a meetable character was Frontierland, but that was back in 2008! I would have figured she would have been back in full swing for Toy Story 3 in 2010, but we had two WDW vacations in 2010 and didn't see her. I'm sure it's possible to find her randomly, as most characters can show up randomly. Hopefully you get lucky. She might also be part of a parade.

 

[kastoney]

Loving the idea of the countdown chain. I had intentions of doing that for Casey once but my severe lack of crafting skills led me to just make her a calendar on the computer instead

What ADR's did you change up? Anything good? Not that I am food motivated in any way