Escaping Mardi Gras - My 1st Trip Report - Pre Trip

[cara76]

This is my first trip report so bare with me.....

The Plan

When we moved back to New Orleans after spending a year in Orlando and having PAP my loving DH mentioned that we wouldn't be going back to WDW for a long time. I looked at him and laughed and let him believe what he wanted.

So the decision for what to do for Mardi Gras came up

• we could stay here and enjoy the parades which both of us know after a few nights we would be done with the crowds and all
• we could ride Mardi Gras day and throw over $1000 away between the cost of riding and the throws or....
• we could go on vacation

Well as you can see going on vacation won!!!! Now the question was where. DH wanted to go see snow. DS and I wanted to go to WDW , somehow freezing for a week in the snow doesn't sound like my idea of a fun trip. Not to mention DS has food allergies and well no one does food allergies like WDW.

The originaly plan was to leave Mardi Gras day getting to the World on Wednesday (we like to break up the 12 hour drive into 2 days). We decided this because of Presidents Day and Mardi Gras and thought maybe we could miss the biggest of the crowds. Well plans evolved and DS got invited to a Birthday Party of a friend that lives in Orlando on the 26th, so days went into 10 days. Next thing I know DH wants to leave the weekend before Mardi Gras so 10 days go into 12 with us arriving Monday the 19th. Then DH changes his mind again and decides we will leave Saturday and drive straight through so 12 days turn into 14. Now we are leaving Friday, driving 1/2 way and getting to the World on Saturday.


So here's the plan -

14 nights at POP with dinning plan, 10 day park hopper , Pirate and Princess Party Tickets for the 23rd , 2 days with the IL's (they live in Orlando too but dont' do Disney ), a birthday party for DS's friend and a day at Sea World.


The Characters

Myself - 30 yr old Disney Fanatic whose favorite character is Tinkerbelle (this may be important to remember as the report goes along)

DH - 32 yr old who secretly loves Disney but won't let the world know it

DS - 5 y old who loves all things Disney just like his Momma. Minnie is his sweetheart (this will be important later on) and he loves the Princesses because they are Pretty and give him Kisses. I should mention he's a flirt and doesn't know a stranger and a social butterfly.

I've made no plans for this trip except ADR's and a few day things

Our Itinerary:

Friday 2/16:
Leave New Orleans and Drive to Crestview, FL spend the night at the Hamption Inn

Saturday 2/17:
Drive the rest of the way to WDW and check in at POP
Eat in the food Court at Pop for dinner and maybe go to FW for the campfire / movies

2/18 :
Breakfast at Whispering Cayon (may see about having this changed to 1900 Park Fare or Ohana's if possible)
After Breakfast we are off to spend the day with the Inlaws
Maybe DTD after we get back from the IL's

2/19:
One of the Parks (not sure yet)
Dinner at Olivia's

2/20:
Mardi Gras Day !!!!!!!
One of the parks (again not sure this is the part of the plan we are winging)
Dinner at the 50's Prime Time Cafe

2/21:
One of the parks again
Dinner at the Garden Grill

2/22 :
One of the Parks
Dinner at Plaze Place

2/23:
Breakfast at Crystal Palace
MK till lunch
Back to the hotel for a rest
Dinner at Trail End
Prirate and Princess Party

2/24:
One of the parks
meeting some friends at DTD for lunch
Dinner at 1900 Park Fare

2/25:
Breakfast at Chef Mickey's
Fishing Excusion for DS and DH
Shoppng for Mommy
Dinner at the IL's

2/26:
Morning at one of the parks
Bithday party for DS's friend
Late dinner at Le Cellier

2/27:
One of the parks
Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern

2/28:
One of the Parks
Dinner at Tony's

3/1:
Princess Storybook Breakfast in Norway
Epcot
Dinner at the ESPN club

3/2:
SeaWorld with friends
Dinner at Capt Jacks

3/3 :
Check out and return to the real world


Now that I've posted this, I must go finish packing and getting ready. Today DS and I are going to buy some special Mardi Gras beads for his Sweetheart and a few other characters and I'm going to get some Mardi Gras decorations to decorate our window at POP

 

[disneediva]

great report. keep it coming

 

[lucas]

Sounds like a plan! Have a great trip. I can't wait to read all about it.

 

[cara76]

Shopping for stuff for vacation:

Took DS shopping today to get some last minute stuff. We got food for breakfast and snacks. We got his soy milk, soy yogurt and soy pudding for snacks also. We got some stuff for the ride there.

And we got beads -

Word to the wise, don't bring a5 yr old to a shop filled wth Mardi Gras beads. I had to stop his spending. He did pick some cute beads though. For Minnie he picked a purple, green and gold bead with a crown, for Mickey he picked monkey and bannana beads, for the princesses it was hearts and some pirate beads for the P & P party. HE would of bought more but just the ones we got plus I got a few decorations for our hotel room was about $20.


So now we are set, food bags are packed, clothes are packed, DS's DVDs, CDs, CD player, and Gameboy are packed. Everything is sitting in the garage waiting for DH to put it in the van Friday morning.

Tonight I'm going to relax and tomorrow I'm going to clean the house ( I don't want to leave with a dirty house), do laundry that needs to get done (should only be a load or 2) and ge ready for Friday

3 more sleeps till we are at Disney, 2 more sleeps till we leave

 

[LouDisney]

Cari, have a great time, I can't wait to hear all about it.
Normally I would be leaving on Friday, coming down for Mardi Gras, but I can't make it this year. I am so sad. Have a great trip and a safe one.

 

[shovan]

Cara, you're trip sounds great! 14 nights WOW!!! Your DS sure is going to "woo" the Princesses with those heart beads! He sounds like he's going to be a real heart breaker! Hope y'all have a great time!

 

[mom2npr]

We're escaping Mardi Gras too . Leaving Fri. (2 days!!!)really early and driving straight to WDW. We're also doing the Pirate and Princess party on the 23rd. Wish we could be staying as long as you guys!

 

[Coach81]

Yah!! Finally found some fellow Mardi Gras evacuees!!! My family (wife 2 boys 4, 9) are flying out this Friday (tomomrrow) am and checking in at ASM around noon. If you can afford it, flying is sooo nice. My wife will be wearing her green mickey ears on her black backpack.

We are sooo excited!!!!

 

[cara76]

My family (wife 2 boys 4, 9) are flying out this Friday (tomomrrow) am and checking in at ASM around noon. If you can afford it, flying is sooo nice. My wife will be wearing her green mickey ears on her black backpack.

We would fly but we have a child with a peanut allergy and well I'm too chicken to even try. The thought causes a panic attack , I can't imagine what the flight would cause. I did look into it and SW was completely booked (unless I wanted to connect in Houston) so driving it is.

 

[carmie3377]

We live in Slidell and I wish we could go too. A couple of weeks ago, I started looking online and no rooms available at Disney (at least in Mod or Value!). I know I should have started planning earlier but I thought I'd rather do Mardi Gras. We are moving to Houston and I knew that this would be our last Mardi gras here, so I decided not to plan Disney. However, the closer we get, I wish we would have planned Disney. We just went at Christmas, but we all got sick so I would like to go again. So, I guess we'll just stay and attempt going into the city. I really dread trying to find somewhere to park!
I hope you have fun, wish we were joining you at the World!

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Cara, tomorrow is your big day. All your ADR's look great. Enjoy and give us a full report when you get back. Have a great Non-Mardi Gras vacation.

 

[cara76]

Off to Neverland

Doing final prep for our trip, clothes in thr dryer we are wearing today (we wore them yesterday too ), the house is 90% clean, my mommy said to stop and she would finish the rest. Printed out my AAA membership and our hotel reservations for tonight.

Waiting on the van to come back from the service center across the street , they are changing the oil and the transmission fluid / fliter before we leave and checking all fluid levels etc.

Then I guess we will be off!!!!!!!

I'll probably check in tonight, I think Hampton Inn has internet and then it will be a few days because of the $10 a day price for internet LOL

Have a safe and happy Mardi Gras everyone!!!!!!!!