"First rule of leadership, Princess...." ~Overdosing on Ice Cream

[dddisrunner]

Love the pics. of the kids feeding Mickey! Too cute! I can't believe you flew all night and were ready to go all day Looking forward to more

 

[stagemomx3]

I can't believe you flew all night and were ready to go all day Looking forward to more

Well just wait until the next chapter, the results of no sleep were not pretty.

 

[stagemomx3]

"A fine conscience I turned out to be!" -Jiminy Cricket

As we drove away from the airport our driver chatted a bit but I don't recall about what. I was to busy looking out the window and taking in the surreal moment of actually being on the vacation I had been planning for over a year. David and Aunt Pat fell asleep, the kids and I read billboards as we zipped along the freeway. Finally the Walt Disney World sign came in to view, the driver slowed down so I could get a picture without other cars in it.

Then we were pulling up to Coronado Springs Resort.

I loved the Mexican/Spanish theme, the soft oranges, and turquoise seemed so soothing to me. As we got out and stood a little stunned in the entry way a CM loaded our luggage on a cart and told us to check in and then come back and tell him if our room was ready or not. He got my hopes up because he said we might get lucky and get a room right away because a lot of people were checking out. There didn't appear to be that much activity going on but I took his word for it.

We entered the lobby and the fountain was so gorgeous.

I should have just stopped to admire it for a moment, but I was on a mission to get us checked in. There was no one else there and we stepped right up to the counter. The CM there was not very warm or welcoming, nor was she very helpful. She was rather stiff and robotic, and I felt like I knew more about Disney World especially the deluxe dining plan than she did. I asked for and received a birthday button for David, who reluctantly put it on. We also got first time visitor buttons for everyone and a whole packet of information. She forgot to give us a map of the resort though. Our rooms were not ready, but I didn't really expect them to be at 9am. We were told our building though and I was a little disappointed that it was not where I had requested. It turned out to be a good location, but in that moment I was bummed and not feeling the Disney Magic.

It was time to get some breakfast so we gathered all our carry on items and walked over to the Pepper Market. Mid morning is not the time to eat there. Of course the fatigue of little sleep and traveling across the country could possibly have colored my view of this. It was loud and felt crowded and cluttered with to much decorations and stuff. Plus I found the process of standing in different lines and getting your card stamped confusing and unappealing. I was definitely not in a good mood. One might even have said I was crabby. That is one would if they had wanted their head bit off.

I chose to sit at the table with all our stuff while everyone else went off to gather their food. Adam came back with an enormous cinnamon roll, his idea of the perfect meal. I did then venture out and got a small bowl of yummy pineapple and I grabbed our refillable mugs. Everyone else returned to the table loaded with food. Daisy had the biscuits and gravy, she and I love biscuits and gravy. These were good but a little different. They were spicier than most biscuits and gravy. I liked them, Daisy didn't. She went back and got a fruit tart which she enjoyed much more. The others ate eggs, muffins, and bagels, but I forgot to take pictures of any of it. I was still crabby and starting to stress about my itinerary choices for after breakfast.

It was sunny but very windy out and I was worried about my plan for hanging out by the pool. I was afraid it was going to be to cold. Plus I don't know why but something about being at Disney causes me to immediately want to go to a park. Now logically I know this is a bad idea, that's why my perfectly planned itinerary did not have us going to a park now. I had made that mistake on both previous trips to Disneyland with mild to moderate disastrous results.

After we ate and used our first meal credits to pay for breakfast we went outside by the lake to collect our bearings.

Schlepping all our carry on bags around was causing me to feel disgruntled, I didn't like being homeless! I foolishly decided that it would be better to store our things and head to a park rather than continue to carry them around and go to the pool. Now I've mentally already made this change to the plans but I haven't told the rest of my family this.

Their reactions to my suggested schedule change were predictable. Joey was excited to do whatever I said. Aunt Pat and David were willing to go along if it was the path of least resistance. Adam was oblivious. That left Miss Daisy, she like her mom, does not react well to sudden schedule changes. In her head we were going swimming and that's what she wanted to do. A small tantrum occurred, I'm sure the words stupid and lame were used. David and Aunt Pat decided we should at least go look at the pool. Joey said he was fine with whatever, and Adam was still oblivious. I then had my own little tantrum and I'm pretty sure babysitting services were mentioned. So both Daisy and I shooting dirty looks and muttering under our breathe followed the rest of the family over to the pool area.

Of course I knew in my head that my family really would be better off swimming and hanging out by the pool at that moment, but I wasn't quite ready to admit that out loud though. What can I say I'm stubborn and hate to be wrong. So at the pool area I unpacked and handed the kids their swimsuits and sent them off to change. The writing was on the wall but I believe I was still muttering to myself. Once the kids came out I made them pose in front of the water feature, which I'm glad I did because they were never over by it again.

They then headed off to the slide and the adults went to find a spot to settle in. The pool area was empty, probably due to it being so very windy! We found a place to park ourselves and Aunt Pat and David both laid down and promptly fell asleep.

I sat and stewed with my grouchy self and snapped a few pictures of the ducks in the pool.

The pool bar opened up and I decided that an adult beverage would help me immensely. I walked over and got myself a fiesta margarita.

It helped to restore some of my feelings of Disney Magic.

Daisy then came out of the water and told me there was a bridge I could stand on to take their picture as they came down the slide. That was her olive branch of peace by the way.

I took the camera and stood on the bridge, which was really a very cool little spot, and snapped some pictures of them coming down the slide.

As I stood on the bridge I realized that yes this was a much better choice than dragging our tired selves around a park at that point. That was why I had scheduled swimming now in the first place. I had after all arranged the perfect itinerary I just needed to follow it.

 

[retiredkid]

Yay!! We're at the resort!!
Yay!! The kids are swimming!!
Yay!! Chel is doing what she planned on doing all along!!

Great update!!

 

[jcc0621]

Great update. I am in the same boat in that we arrive at 9:16am (only a 2 hour flight for us) but we have to get up at 4:00am. I ahve planned pool time then too. I hope I am making the right decision.

 

[Native NYer]

Great update!

I saw the photo of your tattoo on Heath-and-Javens-Mom's ptr and LOVE it. It's so cute.

 

[BrittBritt]

How much fun does that slide look? I love Daisy's pic coming down the slide. She looks like she's having a blast!
I'm sorry that your first couple of Disney moments weren't so magical. Maybe it was just hard to transition from real-life to vacation-life. Yeah, either that, or it was the 30 hours of no sleep!

 

[Plantlady]

I'm loving the trip report!

last summer, at yellowstone, we learned that irritability was a sign that one might be dehydrated. From that point on.. when we start to snap at each other, on vacation... someone always says.. "take a drink of water.. you seem a bit dehydrated."

 

[stagemomx3]

Yay!! We're at the resort!!
Yay!! The kids are swimming!!
Yay!! Chel is doing what she planned on doing all along!!

Great update!!

Yes silly me thinking I could go off plan.

Great update. I am in the same boat in that we arrive at 9:16am (only a 2 hour flight for us) but we have to get up at 4:00am. I ahve planned pool time then too. I hope I am making the right decision.

Pool time is good. Especially when combined with an adult beverage!

Great update!

I saw the photo of your tattoo on Heath-and-Javens-Mom's ptr and LOVE it. It's so cute.

Thank you. I sometimes forget about until one of the kids at school comments on it when I wear flip flops.

How much fun does that slide look? I love Daisy's pic coming down the slide. She looks like she's having a blast!
I'm sorry that your first couple of Disney moments weren't so magical. Maybe it was just hard to transition from real-life to vacation-life. Yeah, either that, or it was the 30 hours of no sleep!

The slide was really fun, yes I did go down it a couple times. I think the no sleep might have been a little bit of a factor. At least that's the story I'm sticking to.

I'm loving the trip report!

last summer, at yellowstone, we learned that irritability was a sign that one might be dehydrated. From that point on.. when we start to snap at each other, on vacation... someone always says.. "take a drink of water.. you seem a bit dehydrated."

I love that! I was a bit dehydrated!

 

[TyRy]

Chel, I think Disney has something in the air that makes people want to rush to the parks...I know I always do and I have to take that step back and breathe as well. Unlike you we only have 2.5 hour flights but we always take the first one of the day and I have to take a little something to just get me to the airport...so needless to say no sleep the night before. I've always been afraid to try a drink fearing I would fall asleep. But I may have to try it next time to get out of my "mood" and into that Disney spirit.

 

[heath-and-javens-mom]

Great Update, the kids are adorable and they look like they really enjoyed the waterslide.

Your TR brings back memories from our 03 trip, we stayed at CSR and I just remembered how pretty it was, The pool was amazing, fountins were great, and night time at CSR is Just beautiful. I was not impressed with the pepper market however, and I hated our LONGGGG walk around the lake ~but I didnt request a room that year (I hadnt found DIS yet), so that was my fault!

Cant wait to read more!

 

[wendy3]

Subscribing!

 

[MomofCKJ]

Great update, love the slide pics! I think staying at the pool was a great idea. Travel is exhausting and especially overnight travel! I am betting if you went to a park you would have had major meltdowns!

What did you request at CSR and what did you end up with? We are staying there in January for the first time and it looks so pretty!

Allyson

 

[stagemomx3]

I've always been afraid to try a drink fearing I would fall asleep. But I may have to try it next time to get out of my "mood" and into that Disney spirit.

It works for me!

Your TR brings back memories from our 03 trip, we stayed at CSR and I just remembered how pretty it was, The pool was amazing, fountins were great, and night time at CSR is Just beautiful. I was not impressed with the pepper market however, and I hated our LONGGGG walk around the lake ~

CSR is beautiful but HUGE, and that walk feels twice as long after a day in the park!

Subscribing!

Welcome!

Great update, love the slide pics! I think staying at the pool was a great idea. Travel is exhausting and especially overnight travel! I am betting if you went to a park you would have had major meltdowns!

What did you request at CSR and what did you end up with? We are staying there in January for the first time and it looks so pretty!

Allyson

Oh I'm sure there would have been more and larger meltdowns if we headed into a park right away. Probably largely by me!

I had requested Cabanas 8B to be close to the pool, and bus stop 4. We were in Ranchos 7A which is actually just behind Cabanas 8B. We were very close to bus stop 4 and a quiet pool. It all worked out!

 

[jordanyosh]

Another West Coaster....and another red eye flight taker...cool....

I have to take red eye to get a full day at WDW...none of that getting in at 6pm nonsense for me.

I agree with the non park start to your vacation.....especially after an overnight flight.

I started with the TR portion...I'm in now...

 

[stagemomx3]

Another West Coaster....and another red eye flight taker...cool....

I have to take red eye to get a full day at WDW...none of that getting in at 6pm nonsense for me.

I agree with the non park start to your vacation.....especially after an overnight flight.

I started with the TR portion...I'm in now...

Welcome. I'm not sure I would ever do the red eye flight again, it was nice to get to Florida so early in the am, but the lack of sleep was difficult.

 

[~Fisharefriends~]

I would have been crabby too, i think you did well to keep it contained!

CSR looks great, i love the themeing, did you notice the conventions at all??

The adult beverage looks yummy but i think that would have sent me to sleep, as doesnt take a lot these days.

 

[whogirl'smom]

I love it--margaritas in the morning! The resort looks beautiful, but I have to tell you what a dork I am this early in the a.m. I looked at the pictures of the slide and thought "That's one really long slide...." then realized it was three pictures once right after each other... !

 

[stagemomx3]

I would have been crabby too, i think you did well to keep it contained!

CSR looks great, i love the themeing, did you notice the conventions at all??

The adult beverage looks yummy but i think that would have sent me to sleep, as doesnt take a lot these days.

The first weekend we noticed the cheerleaders a little bit. After that we didn't notice any conventions.

I love it--margaritas in the morning! The resort looks beautiful, but I have to tell you what a dork I am this early in the a.m. I looked at the pictures of the slide and thought "That's one really long slide...." then realized it was three pictures once right after each other... !

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Hey there, just read through your report, it is hilarious! I especially like the Disney training the boys were doing.

CSR looks like a beautiful resort and that slide looks like a lot of fun. The kids look like they are having a great time despite the red eye flight. Probably a good thing you stuck with the pool instead of the parks.